Director of Surgery

Lead innovation, excellence and education in public oral health.

At the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne (RDHM), part of Oral Health Victoria (OHV), we’re proud to provide high-quality, accessible dental care to communities across Victoria. We’re now seeking a visionary Director of Surgery to provide strategic leadership that drives safe, high-quality and efficient care across our surgical services.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Surgery provides senior leadership and operational oversight across the Surgery Department, including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Day Surgery Unit, Oral Medicine, Anesthetics and associated clinical support services.

This pivotal role shapes the department’s direction, fostering a culture of teaching, learning and clinical excellence. You’ll partner with the Operations Manager and senior clinical leaders to drive innovation in service delivery, workforce capability and patient outcomes – aligned with OHV’s strategic plan and value-based healthcare principles.

Key Focus Areas

- Provide strong clinical and operational leadership to ensure safe, high-quality, patient-centred care.

- Lead and mentor teams, fostering a learning culture that supports innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

- Drive service planning, business performance, and quality initiatives to enhance care outcomes and efficiency.

- Build strategic partnerships with academic, clinical and government stakeholders to advance teaching and professional development.

- Champion quality and safety standards, embedding a proactive culture of wellbeing and accountability.

About You

You are an experienced and respected leader who combines strategic vision with a passion for excellence in public health service delivery. With a track record in clinical governance, innovation and system improvement, you will bring:

- Senior leadership experience (healthcare or hospital settings highly regarded).

- Demonstrated success in driving service improvement, workforce development and patient-centred outcomes.

- Strong understanding of health system governance, value-based healthcare and operational performance metrics.

- Exceptional communication, stakeholder management and mentoring skills.

- Relevant tertiary qualifications, with postgraduate studies in health, business or public health highly regarded.

Our values guide how we work:

We are Accountable | We are Respectful | We are Collaborators | We are Innovators

- It’s the people who make the difference at OHV You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team with a wide range of skills and experiences. Our team fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment for you to thrive and succeed in your role.

- Financial Wellbeing: In addition to your salary, you can take advantage of a generous salary package that could provide you with a great way to reduce the amount of tax you pay – and get more from your salary. Salary package up to $9,010 to assist with everyday living more affordable.

- Mental wellbeing: Carlton boasts several green spaces, including the beautiful Carlton Gardens which provide a relaxing break from the office. Perfect for lunchtime strolls to recharge.

- Public transport: Carlton is well connected by public transport, including trams and buses, making commuting convenient. The proximity to the CBD also means you can easily access various transport options.

- Proximity to the city centre: Located just north of Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD), Carlton offers easy access to the heart of Melbourne’s economic and cultural activities. This means you can enjoy the benefits of being close to the city without the constant hustle and bustle.

- Culinary scene: Work at Carlton where it is renowned for its decadent food scene and charismatic culture. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or a more leisurely meal after work, there are plenty of options nearby.

- Create a meaningful difference in the lives of your patients: You will share the pride and satisfaction of putting a smile on every patient’s face.

To see a full copy of the position description, please review the full document.

We warmly invite you to apply today and take advantage of this unique and exciting opportunity to join our team To submit your application, please click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts.

Alternatively, for a confidential discussion, please contact Natalie Davis at natalie.davis@dhsv.org.au.

Applications close: Wednesday 10th December 2025, 11.59pm.

We will be actively shortlisting during the advertising period, so please send through your application ASAP. Please note: We reserve the right to withdraw this job advertisement prior to the closing date once suitable candidates have been identified.

We acknowledge that diversity increases our ability to transform and achieve better health outcomes therefore we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to fully participate in our recruitment process, please email: careers@dhsv.org.au.

OHV is committed to child safety and wellbeing and has zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. We provide an inclusive and welcoming environment where cultural safety for children is promoted and practiced.

OHV is a public health service and requires employees to be vaccinated in accordance with Department of Health policies or guidelines and/or public health orders issued by the government.

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