General Manager Armidale Hospital

Shape the future of healthcare in a high-profile leadership role with freedom to make a difference.

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time

Position Classification: Health Manager Level 5

Remuneration: $173,345 -$193,906 per annum + 12.5% Super + Salary Packaging

Hours Per Week: 38hrs/week

Requisition ID: REQ618318

Closing Date: Sunday, 30th November

Interviews to be held tentatively on December 5th

"This role offers a strong sense of purpose, the chance to make a real impact on rural and regional healthcare, and the opportunity to work in a challenging yet rewarding environment with a highly collaborative and supportive team.

Located in Armidale—a vibrant regional hub with stunning natural beauty, four distinct seasons, and a rich local food and café culture—the experience is truly exceptional."

– Lisa Ramsland (General Manager)

About the Opportunity

Hunter New England Local Health District is seeking an experienced, strategic and hands-on General Manager to lead Armidale Rural Referral Hospital, one of the region's most critical acute care facilities serving the New England Northwest.

This is a rare opportunity to shape patient outcomes, strengthen staff culture, and influence the future of rural healthcare during a time of reform and growth opportunities. If you're driven by purpose, committed to excellence, and ready to make a meaningful impact in a proud regional community, we want to hear from you.

About the Role

The General Manager is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving the strategic direction, performance, and culture of the facility. You will set the vision, lead operations, and ensure our community receives safe, high-quality, and efficient care — while stepping in hands-on when it matters most.

Working closely with clinical and corporate teams, you'll inspire engagement, strengthen partnerships, and lead improvements that lift patient experience and staff wellbeing. Reporting to the Executive Director, Operations HNELHD, you will be the driving force that brings NSW Health priorities to life locally, creating a high performing environment where people and services thrive.

About Us

Armidale Rural Referral Hospital is a key acute care facility within Hunter New England Local Health District, proudly serving the New England Northwest region. As a 99-bed referral hospital, we provide a wide range of services including emergency care, medical and surgical services, maternity, paediatrics, mental health, rehabilitation, allied health and specialist rural outreach.

Our team is known for its strong clinical capability, supportive culture, and commitment to delivering safe, person-centred care to our diverse communities. We work closely with partner facilities, primary care, and regional services to ensure coordinated, high-quality healthcare.

You'll be supported by an experienced executive leadership team with clear accountability structures and regular executive meetings to ensure alignment and informed decision-making.

Why Choose Armidale

Armidale is more than a career choice — it's a life upgrade. It's trading traffic for tree-lined streets, crowds for community, and stress for space to breathe. Armidale gives you the chance to build a meaningful career while enjoying a lifestyle that actually feels good: crisp mornings, country cafés, top-tier schools, bushwalks on your doorstep, and a community that genuinely looks after one another.

It's a place to buy a home, raise a family, reconnect with nature, and still enjoy great food, strong services, and opportunities to grow. If you're ready for work–life balance that finally lives up to its name, Armidale is the move that makes sense.

What You'll Need to Succeed

We're looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking leader who can energise teams and confidently lead through complexity and change.

You will bring:

• Extensive executive-level leadership experience within health services, with a strong background in health administration, strategic development, and driving complex change at a senior level.
• Highly developed consulting, negotiation and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with internal teams, external partners, and the broader community.
• Strong understanding of Financial Management, Activity Based Funding (ABF), workforce planning, clinical governance principles, and the Australian healthcare system, including relevant regulations.
• Transformational leadership ability, with a track record of inspiring teams, building engagement, and creating a shared vision and commitment to organisational goals.

What We Can Offer You

At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations.

Join the team enriching health in millions of ways every day:

• Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
• 14 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Proximity to shopping and other services
• ADO's each month (for full time employees)
• 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)
• Superannuation contributions

Need more information?

1) Click here for the Position Description

2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Susan Heyman on

Information for Applicants:

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit:

Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit:

This is a Category B position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directivePD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category B positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging: is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS via or

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

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Additional Information

At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact HNELHD- for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier-free application process.

The Welcome Experience helps you and your family connect with local people and resources, making it easier to settle in and feel at home in your new community. Learn more at

An eligibility list will be created for future permanent full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies.

To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.