Nurse Unit Manager - Medical/Surgical & Palliative

St John of God Health Care; Warrnambool; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging up to $18,550

Flexible work options

Well-being programs

Employee discounts

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

St John of God Warrnambool Hospital is seeking an experienced Nurse Unit Manager to provide clinical and operational leadership across the unit. This permanent full-time role supports safe, high-quality and patient-centered care within a dynamic multidisciplinary team.

You will lead, develop and mentor nursing staff, manage rostering and resources, and drive continuous improvements in clinical practice and patient outcomes, maintaining high standards of care and compliance with hospital policies.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current AHPRA registration.
• Experience across surgical, medical and/or palliative care nursing.
• Demonstrated clinical leadership and people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and operational leadership to the nursing team.
• Oversee day-to-day unit operations, patient flow and staffing.
• Lead staff development, supervision and preceptorship.
• Promote infection prevention, medication safety and clinical governance.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support coordinated patient care.
• Contribute to quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

People management

Nurse leadership experience

Staff development

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

RN Registration (AHPRA)

Job description

St John of God Warrnambool Hospital we provide a range of private medical and surgical services ensuring specialist medical care for patients of all ages. Additionally, we deliver outpatient physiotherapy, dietetics and diabetes management services, and offer rehabilitation programs in a fully equipped gym with large hydrotherapy pool. Our services include bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery, chemotherapy, endoscopy, ENT, gastroenterology, general medicine, general surgery, gynaecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery, urology, palliative care and rehabilitation.

Your role at St John of God Warrnambool Hospital

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Nurse Unit Manager to join our team in a permanent full-time capacity.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced nurse leader to provide clinical and operational leadership across the unit, supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality and patient-centred care.

Working closely with the broader nursing and multidisciplinary leadership teams, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of the unit, lead and develop the nursing team, and contribute to ongoing improvements in clinical practice, patient outcomes and service delivery.

The Position

• Provide strong clinical and operational leadership to the nursing team, promoting safe, high-quality and patient-centred care.
• Oversee the day-to-day coordination and efficient operation of the unit, including patient flow, staffing, clinical priorities and resource management.
• Lead, support and develop nursing staff to promote a positive, collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Provide clinical guidance, support and escalation for staff, using sound clinical judgement to manage complex patient care and operational matters.
• Manage staff allocation and rostering requirements, ensuring appropriate skill mix and safe staffing levels are maintained.
• Promote and maintain high standards of clinical practice, infection prevention and control, medication safety, documentation and compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the orientation, education, supervision and professional development of nursing staff and students, including supporting preceptorship and competency development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, effective communication, professional practice and continuous learning.
• Monitor and contribute to quality improvement, risk management, clinical governance and patient safety initiatives.
• Lead the implementation of departmental and hospital operational objectives, policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with medical, allied health and other multidisciplinary teams to support coordinated and effective patient care.
• Monitor service performance and contribute to the ongoing review and improvement of clinical processes, systems and patient outcomes.
• Act as a senior clinical resource and advocate for patients, staff and the broader multidisciplinary team.

About You

You will hold current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA) as a Registered Nurse, with demonstrated experience across surgical, medical and/or palliative care nursing.

You will bring demonstrated leadership experience within a clinical setting, with the ability to lead, support and develop a diverse nursing team. Experience in a Nurse Unit Manager, Associate Nurse Unit Manager, Clinical Nurse or equivalent senior nursing role will be highly regarded.

You will have strong clinical knowledge, sound judgement and the ability to confidently manage competing clinical and operational priorities. Your leadership approach will be collaborative and supportive, with a strong focus on staff development, patient-centred care and clinical excellence.

To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Strong clinical leadership and people management skills.
• Experience leading, supporting and developing nursing staff.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing clinical and operational priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• A commitment to clinical governance, quality improvement and patient safety.
• A commitment to ongoing professional development and contemporary nursing practice.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced nurse leader to make a meaningful contribution to a supportive clinical team while playing a key role in the delivery and continuous improvement of high-quality patient care.

Above all, patients will be at the core of everything you do committing to and supporting our Mission and Values.

The Benefits:

• Salary: $147,618 (pro rata for part time), plus 12% superannuation
• Salary packaging up to $18,550 on a range of benefits such as mortgage, rent, meal entertainment, holiday accommodation or other everyday living expenses as well as options to salary package benefits above the FBT cap on items such as:
  • Novated leasing
  • work related expenses
  • self-education and
  • additional superannuation
• A healthy work-life balance through flexible work options, additional purchased leave and well-being programs
• Employee discounts on St John of God Hospital & Medical Services and Private Health Insurance
• Innovative Professional Development opportunities
• Access to a range of Lifestyle, Health & Wellbeing rewards and discounts

For enquiries contact Leanne McPherson – Director of Clinical Services on [phone]

At St John of God Health Care, we celebrate diversity and warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our commitment is to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children and vulnerable individuals in our care and proactively take steps to protect them from abuse, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Our inclusive culture fosters an environment that is respectful and secure, welcoming and accessible, and unified through our diverse community.

All caregivers employed by St John of God Health Care are required to be vaccinated from Influenza in order to fulfil the requirements of the role.