Northern Territory PHN leads the development and coordination of an equitable, comprehensive primary health care system and an engaged health workforce driven by community needs.

Salary: $120,297 – $131,771
Location: Darwin or Alice Springs

About the Opportunity:

The Strategy and Planning Lead is responsible for providing high-level strategic planning and leadership in the assessment, development and implementation of initiatives that address service gaps, improve patient experiences and outcomes, optimize health resources, eliminate service duplication, and build capacity. The role emphasizes needs assessments and strategic analysis, policy development, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to drive integrated service delivery and build workforce capacity.

The Strategy and Planning Lead plays a pivotal role in aligning commissioned activities to NT PHN’s Strategic Plan and ensuring a sustainable and equitable impact across the primary health care system in the Northern Territory.

This role description crosses portfolios and is applied to external facing work such as access to primary health care (e.g. after hours, in vulnerable groups), family, domestic and sexual violence, healthy ageing, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Alcohol and Other Drugs and Suicide Prevention, and internal facing improvement projects.

The position is to cover a parental leave period and is required for commencement in June 2025 until March 2026.

About the role:

• Provide high level advice on the alignment of strategic priorities, core business activities, and funding requirements with NT PHN’s goals to achieve impactful outcomes across the commissioning cycle.

• Lead needs assessments that include data analysis, literature review, stakeholder engagement, consultation, service and workforce mapping, market, and gap analysis activities.

• Lead complex discussions and assessment of opportunities with internal and external stakeholders to support effective decision-making regarding commissioning opportunities that align with NT PHN’s Strategic Plan and the quintuple aims of healthcare.

• Lead the planning and design of procurement, grant applications, service delivery, reform, and workforce initiatives in collaboration with stakeholders and using co-design principles.

• In all activities, lead and facilitate culturally safe and inclusive practices enabling participation of people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to take an active and meaningful role in service planning and design.

• Coordinate the efforts of internal teams to effectively deliver on complex projects, leveraging diverse skills and resources. As part of this, develop relationships across the organization to support leveraging and efficient use of resources.

• Contribute to the development of strategies, policies, and plans reflecting organisational and jurisdictional priorities and directions in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders; representing NT PHN at key forums, groups and networks.

• Identify, raise and advocate for new and emerging solutions and opportunities to challenges in service delivery, integration and system reform in the primary care sector. This includes facilitating opportunities for integrated solutions within the primary care and across primary care and other social care sectors through partnership and/or co-commissioning.

• Oversee program evaluation activities, including the collection of qualitative and quantitative data, to inform service improvements, resource allocation, and strategic adjustments.

We’d love to chat if you have:

• Tertiary qualifications and at least four years relevant leadership experience in a public health, public administration, social sciences, or other related field.

• Postgraduate qualifications in a related field is desirable.

• Advanced knowledge of the Australian Health System, in particular primary health care, primary health workforce and the NT context.

• Expertise in data analysis, research translation, and evidence-based planning and an understanding of rigour and data validity.

• Strong interpersonal, engagement and relationship building skills with a proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with a wide range of internal and external clients, partners and stakeholders in an environment requiring cultural sensitivity, broad sector understanding and issue resolution skills.

• Superior analytical and written communication abilities, capable of providing timely high-level advice and producing effective documentation related to critical policy and environmental analyses, advocacy, strategy and other organization needs.

• Experience in co-design and human-centred design methods.

• Proven ability to lead projects in accordance with established project management principles and practices, and involving collaboration with a range of stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience in program evaluation to lead consistent, rigorous, and accountable decision- making processes addressing organisational priorities.

• Building organisational capacity by training and mentoring staff in the areas of expertise for the role.

• Regional, rural and/or remote experience is desirable.

• Experience in supervision/team leadership is desirable.

What’s in it for You?

• Working for NT PHN means being a part of an organisation with a bigger picture purpose to improve health care outcomes for Territorians

• Enjoy up to $15,899 of salary sacrifice and a generous base salary

• Enjoy a vast, fast paced and challenging work environment where you will work as a part of a dynamic, supportive and collaborative team

• Enjoy flexible working arrangements, work life balance and a positive, professional work culture

• Receive 6 weeks leave per annum

• Enjoy the opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and career

• Have the freedom to apply innovative and creative thinking

• Access to SONDER – a 24/7 comprehensive employee support service for personal safety, medical & mental health

• Enjoy bringing your dog to work Fridays

Commitment to Reconciliation

NT PHN is committed to undertaking all work within a culturally inclusive, sensitive and safe framework that supports Reconciliation. The NT PHN Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan shows our commitment and dedication to embedding reconciliation initiatives into business and our everyday work.

Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged for all NT PHN positions.

Application Requirements

Please email your resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Please apply through our Online Application page here.

See Role Description here.

If you have any questions or for more information about the role, please contact Leva Azadi – Health Strategy and Planning Manager on 08 8982 1028 or [email protected]

To be successful in your application, you must have a legal working right in Australia.

This position will remain open until Friday 20 June 2025.

Early applications are encouraged, as we will be reviewing candidates as they apply and reserve the right to close the process earlier

• Required

To apply for this job email your details to [email protected]