Manager Rural Programs and Contracts

(HEO10) $146,566 to $156,209 per annum plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation applies.

Fixed term, Full time initially until December 2026.

The vision of the Adelaide Rural Clinical School is to improve the health of rural Australians by building the next-generation health and medical workforce through education, community engagement, Aboriginal health, and rural health research. Specifically, the aim of rural training programs is to support the clinical training, recruitment and research activity of medical, nursing, dental and allied health professionals in remote and rural South Australia. This role will work closely with the academic directors of rural programs to meet merge rural departments and meet the strategic commitments of these programs.

This position can be based in any one of two major rural sites across South Australia (Whyalla or Pt Lincoln) and will:

• Lead the development of, and ongoing monitoring, of the Adelaide Rural Clinical School business plan ensuring alignment with College of Health and Commonwealth grant directions.
• Manage operational programs relating to the merge of rural health programs in the College
• Lead the development and implementation of strategic projects that enable the operational objectives of Rural Health
• Capitalise on strengths and partnerships to expand opportunities for rural health training and research within rural South Australia.
• Manage and provide oversight of offices and student spaces to ensure efficient use of infrastructure in rural sites across South Australia
• Enhance access and availability of student housing during rural clinical placements.
• Provide effective people management and connectivity to ensure the required services support ARCS academic and research endeavours
• Develop and maintain oversight of a unified dashboard to ensure data consistency, efficient tracking of clinical placements, funding and performance management funded through the Commonwealth Rural Health Multi-disciplinary Training grant.

To be successful you will need:

• Proven ability to develop, implement, and evaluate strategic frameworks, policies and procedures that drive organisational performance and align with institutional priorities.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading change to improve outcomes, foster collaboration, and build high-performing, unified teams across geographically distributed environments.
• Highly developed communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated commitment to work collaboratively with Aboriginal staff, students, and health professionals to close the gap in health and education outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the Australian higher education and public health sectors, rural and remote health service delivery, and a high level of commercial and operational acumen.
• Demonstrated ability to model and promote organisational values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence, and discovery, maintaining an outcome-focused and ethically grounded approach to leadership.

This position will require a working with children check and a National Police clearance.

The path to Adelaide University

We are on an exciting path to Adelaide University as we prepare to open our doors in January 2026. Adelaide University will combine the strengths of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, and we are dedicated to creating an accessible and future-focused educational powerhouse that fosters economic and social wellbeing through ground-breaking research and innovative teaching. You can learn more about Adelaide University HERE and more information will be provided throughout the recruitment process.

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

The University of Adelaide is a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you a vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-caliber people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at:

Your faculty's broader role

The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences contains one of Australia's largest concentrations of leading health researchers, teachers and clinical titleholders. It's comprised of eight schools and a number of specialist disciplines, institutes and centers, variously focused on world-class research, and training the next generation of: medical doctors; surgeons; dentists; nurses; psychiatrists; psychologists; and other health professionals.

Learn more at:

If you have the talent, we'll give you the opportunity. Together, let's make history.

Click on the 'Apply Now' button to be taken through to the online application form. Please ensure you submit a cover letter, resume, and upload a document that includes your responses to all of the selection criteria for the position as contained in the position description or selection criteria document.

Applications close 11:55pm, Sunday 16 November 2025.

The University reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

For further information

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, contact:

Prof. Lucie Walters

Director, Adelaide Rural Clinical School

You'll find a full position description and/or selection criteria below: (If no links appear, try viewing on another device)

The University of Adelaide is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Female applicants, people with a disability and/or and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the requirements of this position are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.