Clinical Operations Manager

Tired of leadership roles that feel more about KPIs than people?

In many paediatric allied health practices, clinicians are booked back-to-back, rushing from one session to the next with little time for reflection, collaboration or reporting. Customer service teams are often stretched too - juggling enquiries, invoices and keeping calendars productive, all while trying to make every parent feel seen, heard and supported.

At Kids First, we work differently. For us, success means every family feels valued and appreciated, every team member feels inspired, connected and successful in their role, and our practice continues to thrive so we can build on almost two decades of serving our community with professionalism, integrity and care.

That's why we're looking for a
Clinical Operations Manager
– someone who can bring people, systems and strategy together so both our clinicians and our customer service team can do their best work for children and families.

About the Role

This role is about
leading success
– supporting our team to deliver sustainable excellence, creating outstanding experiences for children and families, and taking Kids First forward into the future in innovative ways that stay true to our core values and maintain our reputation for professionalism, integrity and excellence.

As Clinical Operations Manager, you'll lead with a dual focus:

• Supporting our clinicians and guiding our customer service team. You'll make sure clinicians have the space, structure and support they need to deliver high-quality care.

• Guiding our Customer Service Team members - the heart of our business who combine their knowledge of people, services, systems and productivity - to ensure clients, clinicians and the clinic as a whole experience success.

You Might Be…

• A clinician: Maybe you're a psychologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist or teacher who's ready to step beyond the therapy or classroom and into leadership. You'd still like to keep a small caseload (around 20%) so you can stay connected to clients and the skills you've worked hard to build, but deep down you know you're ready to focus most of your time (around 80%) on guiding and supporting others.

• Or perhaps you're a non-clinical leader: An allied health practice manager, educator or community services manager with solid experience guiding people and managing operations. You understand the realities of client-facing work, and now you're looking for the chance to bring your leadership skills into a practice where values matter as much as outcomes.

Either way, we see you.
You want to work somewhere that recognises your strengths, with people who share your values, and give you the chance to bring your valuable skills into a role where you can make a real difference for families, clients and colleagues.

About You

This role will suit you if you:

• Bring
  experience leading teams in health, education or community services.
• Balance
  accountability with empathy, kindness and respect.
• Listen
  well,
  collaborate
  confidently and
  decide
  maturely, always considering the needs of clients, colleagues and the clinic as a whole.
• Support
  staff by having the courage to hold meaningful conversations, conducting regular check-ins, and helping team members grow, learn and thrive.
• Communicate
  clearly, confidently and respectfully with families so every parent and child feels supported.
• Oversee
  compliance, systems and operational performance with confidence.
• Live
  our values of Care, Kindness, Compassion and Making a Contribution.
• Enjoy
  the benefits of working close to home if you live locally on the Northern Beaches.
• Bring knowledge of the NDIS
• while not essential, it will be an advantage in understanding the context in which many of our families and clinicians work.

Why Kids First?

For almost 19 years, Kids First Children's Services has proudly supported more than 35,000 children and families on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

We're an
award-winning multidisciplinary practice
of psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and teachers. Our reputation is built on
Care, Kindness, Compassion and Making a Contribution
- Core Values that guide everything we do.

At Kids First, balance - not burnout - is the priority. That means:

• Daily admin time built into schedules
• 'Early Finish Fridays'
• A supportive, collaborative culture where people and community come first

Why You'll Love This Role

• Earn
  a competitive salary package of $120K - $130K + super (commensurate with experience).
• Step into
  a leadership role in an award-winning, community-focused practice.
• Lead
  both clinicians and a customer service team that families trust every day.
• Work
  close to home on the Northern Beaches – no long commute into the city.
• Enjoy
  a culture where balance – not burnout – is the priority.
• Play
  a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of Kids First Children's Services.

How to Apply

If you're ready for a leadership role where your skills and values align - and where your impact will be seen and felt every day - we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more about this role (including our 2-minute video) on our website.

Apply now via LinkedIn with your cover letter and CV - or if you'd prefer a confidential conversation before applying, feel free to give us a call at Kids First on