Director - Microbiology

Northern Territory Government; Darwin; On-site; AUD 316,000 - 349,000; Full time

Job summary

Territory Pathology in Darwin is seeking an experienced Director of Microbiology to provide senior clinical leadership, governance and strategic direction across Microbiology and Serology services throughout the Northern Territory, including metropolitan, regional and remote health settings.

This role offers a unique statewide opportunity to lead a diverse pathology service at the forefront of infectious disease diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance and emerging infections, working with

Qualifications

• Fellowship of the RCPA in Microbiology with AHPRA specialist registration or equivalent.
• Significant consultant experience at Senior Staff Specialist/Clinical Director level.
• Strong knowledge of NPAAC, NATA and RCPA requirements and accreditation.
• Experience in quality improvement, risk and incident management.
• Contemporary expertise in molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and antimicrobial resistance.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical oversight across metropolitan, regional and remote Microbiology services.
• Provide specialist advice on diagnostic microbiology, antimicrobial susceptibility, antimicrobial resistance, molecular testing and emerging infectious diseases.
• Lead clinical governance, quality improvement, risk management and accreditation activities.
• Maintain oversight of NPAAC, NATA and ISO 15189:2022 requirements.
• Provide clinical oversight of new test validation, verification, methodologies and technologies.
• Support outbreak response, public health initiatives and emerging infectious disease preparedness.
• Identify and elevate significant clinical, patient safety, quality and accreditation risks.
• Contribute to the development of sustainable, resilient and contemporary Microbiology services across the Northern Territory.
• Provide expert advice to Territory Pathology and Department of Health leadership on Microbiology and infectious disease matters.

Skills

Clinical governance

Quality improvement

Public health microbiology

Molecular diagnostics

Education

Fellowship of the RCPA in Microbiology

AHPRA specialist registration or equivalent

Job description

Senior Staff Specialist Clinician SMO2.1 - SMO2.3 - Remuneration Package Range $315,843 - $349,187

(including salary $270,033 - $298,705)

Territory Pathology

Darwin

One full time ongoing vacancy is available

Territory Pathology is seeking an experienced Director of Microbiology to provide senior clinical leadership, governance and strategic direction across Microbiology and Serology services throughout the Northern Territory.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a diverse and essential pathology service supporting metropolitan, regional and remote health services, while working at the forefront of infectious disease diagnostics, molecular microbiology, antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases.

About the role

As Director of Microbiology, you will provide clinical leadership and oversight across the Territory Pathology Microbiology service, ensuring safe, high-quality, clinically responsive and sustainable services.

Working closely with Pathologists, Supervising Scientists, laboratory managers, quality teams, Public Health, Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Control and Department of Health leadership, you will:

• Provide senior clinical oversight across metropolitan, regional and remote Microbiology services.
• Provide specialist advice on diagnostic microbiology, antimicrobial susceptibility, antimicrobial resistance, molecular testing and emerging infectious diseases.
• Lead clinical governance, quality improvement, risk management and accreditation activities.
• Maintain oversight of NPAAC, NATA, RCPA and ISO 15189:2022 requirements.
• Provide clinical oversight of new test validation, verification, methodologies and technologies.
• Support outbreak response, public health initiatives and emerging infectious disease preparedness.
• Identify and elevate significant clinical, patient safety, quality and accreditation risks.
• Contribute to the development of sustainable, resilient and contemporary Microbiology services across the Northern Territory.
• Provide expert advice to Territory Pathology and Department of Health leadership on Microbiology and infectious disease matters.

About you

You will be an experienced specialist Pathologist with demonstrated senior leadership capability and a strong commitment to clinical governance, quality and patient safety.

You will have:

• Fellowship of the RCPA in Microbiology, with AHPRA specialist registration or an equivalent RCPA-recognised qualification.
• Significant consultant experience at Senior Staff Specialist, Clinical Director, Medical Director, Head of Department or equivalent level.
• Demonstrated senior leadership in Microbiology, clinical governance, quality, patient safety and accreditation.
• Strong knowledge of NPAAC, NATA and RCPA requirements, including accreditation and audit processes.
• Experience in quality improvement, risk and incident management.
• Contemporary expertise in molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and antimicrobial resistance.

Experience in an Australian public pathology service, public health microbiology, outbreak response, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, accreditation assessments or implementation of new microbiology technologies will be highly regarded.

Why Territory Pathology?

This is an opportunity to make a genuine statewide impact, working in one of the most interesting microbiology diverse areas in Australia.

You will work across a geographically diverse health system, providing specialist leadership to services that support some of the Northern Territory's most complex clinical and public health challenges.

From tertiary hospital diagnostics to regional and remote healthcare, you will help shape the future of Microbiology services and ensure Territorians have access to safe, contemporary and clinically responsive pathology.

Join Territory Pathology and help lead the future of Microbiology across the Northern Territory.

For further information about this vacancy please contact:

Associate Prof Rob Baird, Director Territory Pathology on 08 8922 8888 or [e-mail]

Closing date: 28/10/2026