PM
Improvement Program Manager
full-time•Melbourne•A$140k - A$150k
About this role
- Ongoing, full time position
- Parkville location with flexible, hybrid working
- $140,000 - $150,000 p.a. (depending on skills and experience) + salary packaging + super + five weeks annual leave + monthly ADO’s
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.
At Peter Mac, we believe improvement isn’t just a method – it’s a mindset. When our people are supported to learn, grow and innovate, our patients benefit. That’s why we’re looking for a warm, collaborative and future-focused Improvement Program Manager to help us strengthen our improvement culture and build capability across our organisation. If you’re someone who loves partnering with teams, asking thoughtful questions, creating clarity, and helping others see what’s possible, you’ll feel right at home here.
Why this role matters
As our Improvement Program Manager, you’ll play a central role in helping Peter Mac staff deliver safer, smarter and more connected care. You’ll lead the design and delivery of our organisation-wide Improvement Program, using the Safer Care Victoria Model for Improvement to close performance gaps and elevate the patient and staff experience.
You’ll also be a key leader within the Project Management Office (PMO), helping strengthen project governance, build capability, and coach future leaders in improvement and project management practices. Above all, you’ll create an environment where curiosity, problem solving, and continuous improvement thrives.
This is a role for someone who takes pride in leaving teams stronger than they found them.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading improvement & building capability
- Elevating project governance & supporting leaders
- Providing strategic leadership
- Growing strong, connected teams
About you
You’re someone who leads with curiosity, humility and influence. You build trust quickly and enjoy helping teams gain confidence in improvement methods. You’re comfortable moving between strategic, operational and hands-on work – and you bring people with you.
You’ll have:
- Clinical experience in an acute health service
- Formal qualifications in improvement science, project management or change methodologies (e.g. Model for Improvement, Six Sigma, PRINCE2, Agile, AIM, Prosci)
- 3+ years’ experience leading improvement and/or project portfolios in complex organisations
- Excellent facilitation and communication skills, including training and coaching experience
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and influencing skills
- Experience managing the full project lifecycle and coaching others using project tools
- A solid understanding of hospital operations and the realities of constrained environments
- A warm, approachable style, with the ability to build rapport and maintain effective relationships
- A genuine commitment to collaboration, curiosity and continuous improvement
Our Benefits
We offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:
- Flexible, hybrid working arrangements
- Up to $11,660 in salary packaging to increase your take home pay
- Parkville location with public transport options at our doorstep and end of journey facilities for cyclists
- Discounted health insurance and eye care
- A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
- Onsite eateries and coffee shops and inviting rooftop garden
- Pathways for professional development and new career opportunities
- 17.5% leave loading and purchased leave options
Inclusion and belonging
Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment which reflects our vibrant community. We encourage applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.
Ready to help us deliver world-class cancer care?
If you’re passionate about improvement and project management, love helping people grow, and want to make a tangible difference for patients, staff and our community, we’d love to hear from you.
We warmly invite you to apply and encourage your early application. All appointments are made subject to satisfactory police check and may require a valid Working with Children Check. Many staff are required to be vaccinated against, or demonstrate immunity to, COVID-19, influenza, and a range of other diseases.
Apply now! Introduce yourself with a cover letter and resume and help us build the next chapter of improvement at Peter Mac.
Note: This advert may close earlier if the right candidate has been recruited.
For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact Joanne Donovan | Director, Project Implementation 0437 198 640 or [email protected]
Applications close on the 22nd February 2026
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Position Summary
The Improvement Program Manager is responsible for providing an expert business improvement advisory service to Peter Mac’s operational leadership and front-line staff. A key responsibility of this position is to lead the development, delivery and evaluation of staff improvement capability building programs designed to support Peter Mac’s quality improvement and innovation agenda, whilst supporting the development of improvement and project skills in future leaders aligned with the organisation’s strategic priorities and patient-centred outcomes.
The Peter Mac Improvement Program is an organisation wide program that employs the Safer Care Victoria (SCV) endorsed Model for Improvement methodology, to identify and eliminate business performance gaps impeding the delivery of world-class cancer care. In addition, the Improvement program manager supports the Director, Project Implementation and the Project Management Office (PMO) by:
- Supporting the development, implementation and adoption of new PMO operating procedures, templates and workflows to enhance project governance and return on project investment at Peter Mac.
- Acting as the PMO Contact role supporting and coaching designated project sponsors and project managers in how to establish good project documentation, planning, governance processes and ensures accurate and timely status reporting.
- In addition, the Improvement program manager is accountable for the human resource management of the Improvement Advisor/s.
Enterprise Agreement
Health and Allied Services, Managers and Adminstrative Workers
Classification or Salary Range
Grade 6: HS6
Immunisation Risk Category
Category B: Position unlikely to have contact with blood or other body fluid
Key Relationships
| Internal |
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| External |
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Education
Skills
| Essential Requirements |
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| Desirable Requirements |
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Certifications, Licenses & Registrations
Key Accountabilities
| Key Accountabilities | Demonstrated By / Key Performance Indicators |
| 1. Leadership and Governance |
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| 2. Lead advisor on business improvement methodology |
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| 3. Improvement capability building programs for staff |
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Key Accountabilities (Contd..)
| 4. Strategic support for operations executive and departmental managers to deliver successful strategic projects and local improvement projects |
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| 5. Role model and foster a culture of continuous improvement |
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| 6. Participate in SCV collaborative's, and communities of practice (COP) encouraging Peter Mac's participation in both |
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| 7. Accountable for management of the improvement team and cost centre |
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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.
What you'll do
- The Improvement Program Manager is responsible for leading the design and delivery of the organisation-wide Improvement Program, focusing on enhancing patient and staff experiences. This role also involves strengthening project governance and building capability within the Project Management Office.
About Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (‘Peter Mac’) is a world leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.
With more than 4,000 employees, including 700+ laboratory and clinical researchers, we’re focused on providing better treatments, better care and potential cures for cancer.
Our values are Compassion, Excellence and Innovation.
We offer a range of staff benefits which support our people both personally and professionally, including:
• Up to $11,660 in salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• Discounted health insurance and eye care
• A comprehensive health and wellbeing program
• Pathways for professional development and career opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements wherever possible
• Up to six weeks annual leave plus additional purchased leave
Our main site in Parkville, Melbourne, a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility, offers public transport options at our doorstep and end of trip facilities for cyclists, along with onsite eateries, coffee shops and relaxing rooftop garden spaces.
We also have six additional sites providing radiation therapy services to patients in Moorabbin, Box Hill, Bendigo and Sunshine, plus our imaging centre in East Melbourne.
Peter Mac celebrates, values and supports a diverse and inclusive environment that reflects our vibrant community.
We encourage job applications from anyone identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also welcome anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, linguistically, culturally and/or gender diverse, people with disability, and people of any age to apply for our roles.
Join us and break new ground and change lives.
Peter Mac acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which our sites are located throughout Victoria. We recognise their strength and resilience and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Ready to join Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre?
Take the next step in your career journey
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre pay for a Improvement Program Manager?
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre offers a competitive compensation package for the Improvement Program Manager role. The salary range is AUD 140k - 150k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.
What does a Improvement Program Manager do at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre?
As a Improvement Program Manager at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, you will: the Improvement Program Manager is responsible for leading the design and delivery of the organisation-wide Improvement Program, focusing on enhancing patient and staff experiences. This role also involves strengthening project governance and building capability within the Project Management Office..
Is the Improvement Program Manager position at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre remote?
The Improvement Program Manager position at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.
How do I apply for the Improvement Program Manager position at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre?
You can apply for the Improvement Program Manager position at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centredirectly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.