Senior Improvement Advisor

Date: 30 May 2025

Site: VCCC (Parkville)

Location:

MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000

Company: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Unit: Chief Financial Officer

Division: Chief Financial Officer

Department: Chief Financial Officer

Enterprise Agreement: Health and Allied Services, Managers and Administr

Chief Financial Officer

Senior Improvement Advisor

Full time, ongoing position. Part-time may be considered at 4 days per week
Parkville location with flexible, hybrid working
80hrs per fortnight with monthly ADOs 
Health and Allied Services, Managers and Administrative Workers: HS5 or equivalent Nurse, Allied Health or Health Professional
Salary range dependent on experience

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) is a Victorian public health service and a world-leading comprehensive cancer centre, dedicated to excellence across all spheres of clinical care, research and education. We are home to the largest cancer research enterprise in Australia and provide treatment to around 40,000 people with cancer each year. Welcoming staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences is integral to fostering innovation and compassion, and delivering the best possible cancer care for our patients

About our Team

The Peter Mac Project Management Office was established in early 2025 to enhance delivery of the organisation’s strategy by supporting improved alignment of project selection with strategic priorities and improved governance and support across the project lifecycle to enhance the return on project investment.

A key support function of the PMO is to build the organisation’s improvement science and project management capability. As a Senior Improvement Advisor, you will be part of the PMO collaborating with clinicians, executives, support services (IT, procurement) and data teams to identify opportunities, co-design solutions, and implement sustainable change.

What will your typical day look like? 

The Senior Improvement Advisor engages directly with clinical and non-clinical departments supporting priority projects and improvement opportunities, with the relevant stakeholders of these departments, and third parties. This would include: 

Facilitating project meetings and workshops
Building staff improvement capability by teaching, coaching and mentoring managers and staff managing improvement projects
Undertaking data analysis and synthesis
Applying improvement methodologies
Supporting the PMO functions including providing governance and oversight on project status reporting
Evaluating the impact of changes on service performance.

Is this you? 

We are currently seeking a Senior Improvement Advisor experienced and proactive professional with a strong track record in leading and/or supporting quality and service improvement initiatives within complex healthcare environments. This includes experience in the operational functions of hospitals.

Your skills

Tertiary qualification in health care, project management, or a related discipline. 
Experience working in a hospital environment.  
Experience working with Epic systems or an electronic medical record (desirable)
Strong interpersonal skills in managing multiple stakeholders and teams across concurrent streams of development work essential. 
Excellent team player who values diversity and always demonstrates respect. 
Aptitude for problem solving and using technology and tools to improve processes. 
An interest in developing the project management and governance skills of existing and future leaders.
Experience in training (1:1 and groups), presenting and public speaking. 
Experience performing business analysis activities in a healthcare environment. 
Experience in project co-ordination, delivery, including process mapping and redesign in a healthcare setting.

Why Peter MacCallum?

Work related training and conferences 
Flexibility to work from home ~ 50% of the time (hybrid model) 
Salary Packaging  
Discount Health Insurance and Eye Care 
Car Parking (subject to availability) and public transport options at our doorstep and end of journey facilities for cyclists
Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden spaces (delete as required)
Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities

Next Steps

This is an amazing opportunity to join our new growing team.  
If this sounds like the sort of role for you, apply now we would love to hear from you!  

Please introduce yourself with a cover letter and resume.
Applications close 11:59PM Sunday 15 June 2025

All enquiries to  
Ms Danielle Murray | Manager, Improvement Lead
Danielle.murray@petermac.org | 0409 594 983

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Position Summary

The Peter Mac Project Management Office (PMO) was established in early 2025 to enhance delivery of the organisation’s strategy by improving alignment of project selection with strategic priorities and provision of enhanced project management and governance across the project lifecycle to ensure a better return on project investment.
A key support function of the PMO is to build the organisation’s improvement science and project management capability.
Together with the Lead Improvement Advisor, the Senior Improvement Advisor supports Peter Mac leaders to build staff improvement project capability to:

Identify service performance problems and or opportunities for improvement
Develop project initiation briefs to pitch their improvement opportunity
Establish well constituted project teams including contracting the right sponsor
Design appropriate measures and benefits suites for each project
Conduct thorough problem analysis and establish baseline performance
Develop innovative solutions and improved processes to test in PDSA cycles
Manage project stakeholders, change plans, risks and status reporting and
Evaluate the impact of changes on service performance.
The Improvement Advisors employs a range of different methodologies from the field of improvement science, including the Safer Care Victoria (SCV) endorsed Model for Improvement to optimise operational efficiency, improve the quality and safety of care and enhance patient and staff experience.
The Senior Improvement Advisor reports to and is supported by the Lead Improvement Advisor for the PMO team. As a member of the PMO team the Senior Improvement Advisor may be asked to support a range of projects prioritised by the Executive for support.

Enterprise Agreement

Health and Allied Services, Managers and Adminstrative Workers

Classification or Salary Range

Grade 5: HS5

Immunisation Risk Category

Immunisation Category B

Key Relationships

Internal	The PMO Team Commercial Finance Partners Operations Directors/Directors and Managers Executive/Project Sponsors and Project Managers Business Intelligence and Analytics Team Quality and Risk /Clinical Governance Team EMR Team IMCT Team and Digital Team People and Culture Business Partners
External	The Parkville Specialist Health Services Network Team Operational staff and clinicians across the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre precinct Improvement Leads from other health services Safer Care Victoria, Safety Branch, Culture and Capability Program’s Quality Improvement Community of Practice.

Education

Skills

Essential Requirements

Tertiary qualification in health care, project management, or a related discipline.
Experience in leading a quality improvement initiative using a structured methodology.
Experience in adult learning, coaching or mentoring of staff.
Knowledge of improvement methodologies, tools and techniques such as the Model for Improvement, driver diagrams, use of run charts to measure for improvement, Lean Thinking methodologies, Six Sigma, PDSA, and process redesign.
Competent analytical, conceptual and report writing skills.
Proven ability to work collaboratively in diverse team environments utilising strong organisational skills, effective communication and attention to detail.
Knowledge of the principles of consumer engagement and co-design.
The ability to motivate and focus a team and to foster collaboration among team members.
Proficient in utilising MS TEAMS and PowerPoint to facilitate meetings and or educational programs.
Proficient in the use of MS365 especially SharePoint and Microsoft Excel for establishing data collection and display.

Desirable Requirements

Certified qualification in an improvement science and or project management methodology for example, Safer Care Victoria Quality Improvement and Innovation Capability Development Programs, Green or Black Belt Six Sigma, PRINCE, Agile or LEAN, and the ability to apply them flexibility to deliver exceptional organisational outcomes.
Experience in delivering training using MS TEAMS, Zoom or video technology.
Knowledge of the human side of change management including application of the ADKAR model.
Advanced skills in data analysis using Microsoft Excel.
Experience in consumer engagement and co-design and or in workshop facilitation.
Flexibility to respond in a dynamic environment including ability to work outside normal business hours if required to consult with various clinical staff.
Previous experience leading process redesign, reviews of operating models, models of care, process improvements.
Qualifications in Project Management and Process Improvement methodologies, such as PMBok, Waterfall, Agile, Prince2, Lean.
An understanding of health systems outside of Victoria to provide experience and examples of opportunities for improvement.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations

Key Accountabilities

Key Accountabilities	Demonstrated By / Key Performance Indicators
1. Teach, coach and role model	Working with the Lead Improvement Advisor provide tailored staff improvement capability building programs for staff. Contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of capability building programs. Coach and mentor staff to be at the forefront of continuous service improvement utilising the framework of the Model for Improvement and the ADKAR change model. Motivate and support a collaborative, respectful multi-disciplinary service improvement culture particularly where there may be resistance to change. Encourage a holistic, whole system approach to improvement. Be a strong advocate for service excellence and continuous improvement and innovation both at Peter Mac and with our partner organisations and stakeholders.
2. Support project management and governance	Support and coach staff to follow the organisations project initiation and management processes such as how to pitch a new project idea for approval, develop business cases, define scope, deliverables and governance arrangements with project initiation briefs, formulate timelines, and report project status. Ensure solution being considered is aligned to the strategic direction and technology infrastructure. Ensure effective management of the entire project lifecycle using a variety of project management tool. Ensure that patient/carer views are at the forefront of problem definition and solution design. Effectively escalate project risks to Project Management team and PMO team for advice and support. Ensure that stakeholder management and change plans are embedded into projects. Strong active coaching and supporting role for improvement teams prioritised for support from the PMO as part of its capability building programs. Supports all members of the PMO team with project management and governance functions as required.
3. Establish measures for improvement	Support Managers and Directors to identify the priorities for service improvement through analysis of operational performance data, patient experience data, accreditation surveys, benchmarking and quality and safety incident data. Support staff to develop appropriate reliable and valid measure suites are employed for improvement projects to ensure monitoring of key deliverables and change adoption. Employ run charts to assess for signals of change and coach others to apply same. Support project managers to provide regular status reports on the progress of improvement projects against their key deliverables and aims to relevant stakeholders and sponsors.
4. Team building	Work effectively with cross functional teams consisting of executive sponsors and team leaders, divisional and service managers, clinicians, support staff and patients to plan and implement service improvement projects. Work effectively across professional and divisional boundaries. Build trust through active listening, self-awareness, showing respect for different opinions, and delivering agreed actions on time in full. Offers visible support to staff and teams through the process of change.

Key Accountabilities (Contd..)

5. Communication and collaboration	Provide regular feedback on project progress to the Lead Improvement Advisor, the PMO team and relevant staff including the nominated project sponsor and business owner. Co-ordinate effective communication between projects teams and business as usual operational teams to build awareness of the project goals, the need for change, how the change will impact staff, and what new behaviour is expected from staff, when, where and why. Keep abreast of developments and priorities of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, Safer Care Victoria’s Improvement Programs and priorities for the Parkville Local Area Health Network commencing in July 2025.
6. Openness and Accountability	Consistently demonstrate a clear, concise, open manner to all stakeholders Demonstrate taking ownership and responsibility for achieving commitments Demonstrate collaboration and value other people’s inputs Maintain transparency in all activities and tasks Work co-operatively as a team member, sharing responsibility and knowledge Maintain an open communication culture.
7. Continuous Improvement	Identify and implement opportunities for improving the PMO team’s capability and services Develop processes to increase efficiency and maturity. Actively embrace and contribute to new approaches within the department and organisation as a whole. Build up a knowledge base of information that is shared within the broader team. Review and update any documents to improve policy, process and procedures.
8. Other Duties	Support and carry out other tasks as directed by the Lead Improvement Advisor.

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For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position profile. Alternatively, please contact us for a confidential discussion.

Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.

WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC

Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.