Chief Operating Officer

Role overview

Metro South Health is looking for a senior executive leader to join its Executive Leadership Team as Chief Operating Officer. This position carries broad strategic and operational responsibility across a major health service, including hospitals, clinical operations, and system-wide functions. The purpose of the role is to help ensure safe, high-quality, patient-centred care for the communities served by Metro South Health.

Key role purpose

Reporting to the Health Service Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Officer will play a central part in improving organisational performance, operational effectiveness, and service innovation. The role involves guiding Executive Directors and senior leaders to deliver strong results across safety, quality, financial performance, and operations within one of Queensland’s largest and most complex health services.

What you will do

• Direct major operational and strategic initiatives that improve service delivery at scale.
• Oversee a workforce of more than 15,000 FTE and manage operational budgets above AUD 3.8 billion.
• Promote accountability, performance improvement, and ongoing optimisation across facilities and services.
• Advise the Health Service Chief Executive, Executive Team, and Board on complex operational matters.
• Support the design of sustainable, innovative models of healthcare delivery.
• Build a strong, collaborative, values-led culture across the organisation.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships across the health system and the wider community.

About you

The organisation is seeking a driven executive who has a strong track record of leading large, complex healthcare settings through change, service transformation, and operational uplift. You should bring the confidence to influence at senior levels and the capability to guide multidisciplinary teams through challenging priorities.

What you bring

• Deep executive leadership experience in a large and complex health service environment.
• Proven strength in operations, finance, and performance management.
• Highly developed strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary executive teams and broad service portfolios.
• A leadership style grounded in values, patient safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.

What is on offer

This is a high-impact executive opportunity within one of Australia’s largest and most progressive public healthcare organisations. The role offers the chance to influence service delivery at scale and contribute to better health outcomes across diverse communities.

• An influential executive position within a diverse multi-site health service.
• The opportunity to shape healthcare strategy and system-level outcomes.
• A collaborative executive environment focused on excellence, innovation, and patient-centred care.
• Access to strong teaching, research, and tertiary partnerships.
• Executive-level pay and benefits, including flexible and family-friendly working arrangements.
• The chance to live and work in South East Queensland with access to a vibrant lifestyle and diverse communities.

Values and culture

Metro South Health’s values are Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Engagement, and Excellence. These principles guide the way the organisation works together to deliver better outcomes for the community.

The organisation welcomes applications from people of all genders, ethnicities, ages, abilities, languages, sexual orientations, and family responsibilities. It is also committed to building inclusive public-sector workplaces in Queensland that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Additional information

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application online and review the role description for full application requirements. Agency referrals will not be accepted for this position.