Program Development Consultant

Part time role: 25.5 hours per week (.671 FTE)

Fixed-term contract: to July 2026 (parental leave backfill - Mental Health Team)

Location: Work from anywhere in the western Victoria region

(Horsham, Warrnambool, Ballarat or Geelong areas)

Western Victoria Primary Health Network

About Us

Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) is responsible for increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and coordination of health services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes.

Working together with community and health industry partners, WVPHN is committed to strengthening the primary healthcare system, based on local needs. Our four regional centres in Ballarat, Geelong, Horsham and Warrnambool, drive local engagement and ensure strong rural and regional connections, through the development of local community and clinical councils.

Benefits of working with Western Victoria PHN

At WVPHN we celebrate diversity within and outside of our organisation. We consciously remove barriers and enable an environment for all to belong, feel welcome and be heard. This aligns with our organisational values of Respect, Connect and Lead.

We also pride ourselves on being a supportive and flexible working place that offers a great range of benefits:

Generous salary packaging options up to $15,900 + $2,650 meals and entertainment

Professional development allowance ($1,200 per year per FTE) and leave.

Family friendly and flexible working arrangements

Collaboration with passionate, likeminded professionals

Option to purchase additional leave.

Additional leave between the Christmas and New Year period

Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave.

Employee Assistance Program

About the Role

The purpose of the Program Development Consultant position is to support the organisation to commission services through the design, development, monitoring and evaluation of project and program work.

Following the design and procurement of programs and projects, the role will manage daily contract operations, including coordination with commissioned providers.

Program Development Consultants collaborate closely with the Manager/s of Service Delivery and Mental Health, following defined escalation procedures to support Managers in overseeing broader work portfolios.

This is a hybrid role: working from anywhere in the western Victoria region, with some travel/face-to-face meetings required for training, stakeholder engagement and team days.

Duties include:

Build capacity of commissioned service providers to deliver safe, quality services through WVPHN commissioned programs, and identify opportunities for quality improvement within projects and programs

Engage and coordinate internal and external stakeholders including other PHNs, clinical and management staff at commissioned services, plus other community-based organisations and consumers

Work across the Service Delivery and Mental Health teams to deliver all project activities within WVPHN commissioned programs of work including program and service development, co-design, market engagement, procurement, program implementation, stakeholder engagement, issue resolution, risk identification and management, outcome measurement and program evaluation to ensure that services are delivered to the community at the right place, at the right time and at the right price.

Develop program and procurement documentation to support the implementation and management of outcomes across project and program deliverables for WVPHN commissioned programs.

Work with commissioned providers to manage complex contracts, monitor deliverables, program budgets and implement performance management processes as required to ensure compliance with WVPHN requirements and maintain effective stakeholder relationships.

Key Selection Criteria: please address the below in your application

Tertiary level qualifications in a health or community related discipline, Health Promotion, Health Social Sciences or Health Service Planning, Public Health, community development or related discipline; or minimum five years of prior relevant experience in projects/programs management; or minimum five-year experience in PHN or similar organisation

Strong project management and program development skills with a high level of skill using MS applications

Knowledge of the broader mental health, AOD and general health service system and related activities, including issues affecting people from priority populations

High level of skills and experience in facilitation, and the development and maintenance of networks and relationships

Ability to work with a level of functional autonomy and as part of a program team across teams, geographies and within delegated authorities

Employment requirements

Be prepared to undergo a National Police Check, prior to appointment

A current Victorian driver’s licence

Working rights in Australia (visa, permanent resident, citizen)

How to Apply

This is a highly attractive role and we are keen to find the right person, therefore we will be actively contacting applicants during the recruitment process to shortlist for suitability and conduct interviews. Applicants may be contacted before the closing date. Please don’t delay in submitting your interest!

Email applications to [email protected] by 5pm, Friday 25 July 2025 including:

CV

Cover letter

Statement addressing the ABOVE (5) key selection criteria and employment requirements

The full position description, including further detail about the role, is available from our website: https://westvicphn.com.au/about-us/wvphn-careers/

For further information regarding this position, please contact:

Monica Murnane, Senior Manager Mental Health

Email: [email protected]