Principal Health Service Planner

Health; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 137,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network is seeking a Principal Health Service Planner to shape healthcare delivery across the southern region. You will lead strategic planning initiatives, work with clinical teams, and provide expert direction to improve patient outcomes using advanced data and collaboration.

The role reports to the Planning Lead and involves stakeholder engagement, policy development, and development of communication strategies to influence service provision and practice changes.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy, strategic planning and program development at a senior level.
• Strong written and verbal communication for diverse audiences.
• Ability to interpret demographic, epidemiological profiles and activity trends.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain positive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide high level expert advice to clinical leaders to implement innovation and optimise planning projects.
• Interpret geographical, demographic and epidemiological data to inform clinical service planning.
• Collaborate with media/communications to develop engagement strategies and targeted communications.
• Conceptualise and promote future health service provisions based on national and international trends.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Strategic planning

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Registered Nurse

Allied Health qualification

Job description

Job no: 950938
Work type: Full time
Location: Adelaide Metro Southern, Adelaide CBD
Categories: Administration, Business and Management, Allied and Scientific Health, Nursing/Midwifery, Public Health

• Southern Adelaide Local Health Network – Flinders Medical Centre – Health Service Planning
• Salary $130,046 - $134,956 p.a. (Pro Rata) ASO8,
• Salary $137,464 - $143,282 p.a. (Pro Rata) RNM4,
• Salary $123,048 - $133,957 p.a(Pro Rata) AHP4
• Full-time permanent position

Principal Health Service Planner - Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Shape the future of healthcare delivery across southern region as our Principal Health Service Planner. Lead strategic planning initiatives that directly impact patient outcomes while working with cutting-edge data and collaborating with renowned clinical teams.

About the role:

Reporting to the Planning Lead, some of your duties for the role will include:

• Build and maintain positive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• Provide high level and expert advice, professional direction and support to clinical leaders and practitioners to change culture and implement innovation, and to enable optimisation of the Health Service Planning project
• Undertake and interpret geographical, demographic, and epidemiological profiles, as well as assessment of clinical activity trends, to inform clinical service planning
• Working with media and communications to develop communication and engagement strategies and targeted communications
• Conceptualising, developing and promoting future health service provision, with detailed knowledge of national and international healthcare trends

About you:

• Appropriate qualification in an Allied Health discipline from a recognised tertiary institution resulting in registration or giving eligibility for membership with the professional association
• Significant experience in a range of project work, policy development and planning work involving both teamwork and individual effort to achieve significant outcomes
• Registered Nurse and or Midwife with at least 3 years post registration experience
• Demonstrated high-level experience in policy, strategic planning and program development at a senior level including the preparation of reports, policies and plans for complex organisational issues
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing to a range of audiences, including the ability to clearly articulate complex concepts, critical issues, and changes in strategies/practices/policies and to effectively negotiate successful outcomes

This is a single vacancy, with three possible appointment classifications. The successful applicants will be appointed in the position appropriate to their skills, qualifications, and experience.

Please note that this position is multi-classed as either a ASO8, AHP4, RNM4 and classification will be determined by qualifications and experience.

Please see the attached Role Description for additional information.

Want To Know More? Contact: Lucy Alford, A/Planning Lead, [phone], [e-mail]

Application Closing Date: 11.55 pm Tuesday 13th of October 2026

Attachments:

• ASO8 Principal Health Service Planner Role description
• AHP4 Senior Project Manager - Role description
• RNM4 Pricipal Health Service Planning Role description
• Australian applicant guidelines
• International applicant guidelines

Applicant Information:

• The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
• Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and Immunisation compliance as indicated on the Role description.
• SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Job ref: 950938

Advertised: 29 Sep 2026 Cen. Australia Standard Time
Applications close: 13 Oct 2026 Cen. Australia Daylight Time