Director - Claims & Recovery Support

WorkSafe Victoria; Geelong; Hybrid; AUD 230,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

WorkSafe Victoria in Geelong is seeking a Director, Claims and Recovery Support to provide strategic and operational leadership across claims management, recovery outcomes, governance, service delivery and organisational capability.

You will report to the Head of Delivery Operations and collaborate with senior leaders, agents and external stakeholders to drive performance and ensure injured workers remain at the centre of service delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience in large, regulated service organisations.
• Proven ability to lead transformation and performance improvement.
• Experience developing and leading senior leaders and high-performing teams.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Working knowledge of workers' compensation or similar public sector regimes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Claims and Recovery Support Division to deliver improved outcomes for injured workers and scheme stakeholders.
• Drive divisional performance, service delivery and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Shape and influence recovery service reform across Victoria's workers compensation scheme.
• Build organisational capability and lead a high-performing leadership team.
• Establish effective governance, stakeholder partnerships and operational frameworks.
• Contribute to a financially sustainable and effective workers compensation scheme.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Governance

Regulatory environment

Education

Tertiary qualifications in a related field

Job description

• Senior leadership role with the Return to Work Victoria Business Unit
• Executive Remuneration Package
• Wadawurrung / Geelong based role (hybrid – 3 days a week in office)

About the opportunity

The Claims and Recovery Support Division is responsible for improving outcomes for long-term injured workers and helping shape the future Recovery Service Model for Victoria's workers compensation scheme.

As Director, Claims and Recovery Support, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across claims management, recovery outcomes, governance, service delivery and organisational capability. Reporting to the Head of Delivery Operations, you will work closely with senior leaders, agents and external stakeholders to drive performance, strengthen organisational capability and ensure injured workers remain at the centre of service delivery and decision-making.

You will play an important role in supporting WorkSafe's ongoing recovery reform agenda and contributing to a sustainable and effective workers compensation scheme.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the Claims and Recovery Support Division to deliver improved outcomes for injured workers and scheme stakeholders.
• Drive divisional performance, service delivery and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Shape and influence recovery service reform across Victoria's workers compensation scheme.
• Build organisational capability and lead a high-performing leadership team.
• Establish effective governance, stakeholder partnerships and operational frameworks.
• Contribute to a financially sustainable and effective workers compensation scheme.

About you

You are an experienced senior leader with a track record of leading complex service-based operations, delivering organisational change and achieving outcomes in highly regulated environments. You bring strong strategic judgement, stakeholder engagement capability and a commitment to improving outcomes for injured workers and the Victorian community.

Additionally, you will possess the following skills and experience:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation, preferably in workers compensation, personal injury, health, disability or a related sector.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale transformation, operational performance and service improvement initiatives.
• Proven experience developing and leading senior leaders and high-performing teams.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Contemporary knowledge of case management, injury recovery, rehabilitation and disability services.
• Experience developing strategic direction, governance frameworks and business improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of Victorian workers compensation legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of WorkSafe and its stakeholder landscape.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications. Experience in workers compensation, case management, rehabilitation, medical and paramedical, disability, social services or a related field will be highly regarded.

Working with us

At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community.

We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community. We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.

What's next?

Applications close 11pm Monday 23 November 2026.

Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.

Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.

Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.

For further enquiries please contact David Heaney via email ************@worksafe.vic.gov.au