[Urgent] General Manager

About us

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8600 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates.

RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery.

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join us as General Manager, Pathways. This senior role provides strategic and operational leadership of the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program, the Specialist Training Program (STP), and the Rural Program, ensuring they remain at the forefront of surgical education and workforce development across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This role can be based in our Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide or Wellington office with hybrid and flexible working arrangements. You will report to the Executive General Manager, Education Pathways and play a pivotal role in aligning these programs with RACS’ strategic objectives, enhancing our effectiveness, and strengthening partnerships with specialty societies, training boards, hospitals, Fellows and trainees.

As General Manager, you will:

- Lead the end-to-end delivery of the SET program, ensuring it reflects RACS strategic goals and future workforce needs.
- Build trusted, collaborative relationships with specialty training boards, surgical societies, hospitals and trainees to shape a high-quality training experience.
- Drive operational excellence by embedding best practice, continuous improvement, and innovation across program delivery.
- Ensure robust governance frameworks, compliance, and policy development that safeguard program quality and equity.
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team, fostering inclusion, cultural safety and future-ready leadership.

This is a senior leadership role with visibility across the organisation and the sector. It represents a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of surgical training and practice.

Skills and Experience

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader who brings:

- Tertiary qualifications and/or significant experience leading complex education or training programs, ideally within the health or medical sector.
- Proven ability to build and sustain high-impact relationships with diverse stakeholders in complex environments.
- Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills, with a track record of influencing at senior levels.
- Strong financial and operational management skills, including program evaluation and strategic planning.
- Demonstrated ability to foster inclusion, equity and cultural safety.
- Adaptability, resilience and the ability to lead through complexity and transformation.

At our organisation, we are proud to have a positive impact on improving health outcomes in the community. Our people are especially important to us, we treat everyone fairly and are mindful of our colleagues and their wellbeing. Working at RACS, you will thrive in our environment where we recognise that we are all one team. Our employees are at their best when they have balance in their lives, so by joining our team you will have:

- flexibility to combine working from home with time spent in the office
- RACS Professional Development Framework (Grow at RACS)
- access to a wellbeing app
- additional, gifted leave at the end of the year
- access to online learning portal THRIVE with a catalogue of 89,000+ courses
- access to an Employee Assistance Program which includes counselling for personal and work-related issues, support for family members, legal support, career development and planning, nutrition & lifestyle advice as well as financial counselling

We genuinely care about our employees’ health and wellbeing and encourage our people to bring their whole selves to work.

How to apply?

To apply for this role please submit your application by clicking on the “Apply Now’ button to submit a cover letter and resume.

Please note we will be reviewing applications as they come in.

Enquiries can be directed to careers@surgeons.org however, applications emailed to this address will not be accepted.

RACS is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion in our workforce. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people as the traditional landowners of Australia and Māori as the tangatawhenua (people of the land) of Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to creating employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and Māoriand building an environment that is inclusive, culturally safe and appropriate.

RACS NSW Office, Suite 1, Level 26, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,

RACS SA Office, 24 King William Street, Kent Town, South Australia, Australia,

RACS VIC Office, 250-290 Spring Street, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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