Chief Risk Officer - Hunter New England Local Health District
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Health Manager Level 4
Remuneration: $147,653 - $175,917 Per Annum + Superannuation + Salary Packaging
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ669507
Location: Waratah Campus
Closing Date: Sunday 05 July 2026
Hunter New England Local Health District is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Chief Risk Officer (CRO) to lead and strengthen our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) capability across the District.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape organisational risk culture, influence strategic decision-making, and drive system-wide improvements that support safe, effective, and innovative healthcare delivery.
About the Role
As the CRO, you will provide expert leadership in the development, execution, and oversight of Hunter New England Health's Enterprise Risk Management Framework, ensuring it aligns with organisational priorities and supports the delivery of high-quality services.
You will act as a trusted advisor to the Executive, delivering specialist risk insights that enhance organisational readiness, support informed decision-making, and align with the Board’s risk appetite and tolerance.
Key Responsibilities include
- Provide specialist risk management advice to Executive and senior leadership, supporting strategic planning and operational decision-making.
- Enable the organisation to identify, assess and manage risks and opportunities, supporting successful program and service delivery outcomes.
- Lead enterprise-wide risk strategy development, ensuring alignment with corporate and clinical governance priorities.
- Support the early planning of major initiatives, embedding a strong risk culture and influencing policy and program design.
- Develop and implement frameworks, strategies and processes to mitigate risks and achieve organisational objectives.
- Oversee and safeguard the enterprise risk management program, including comprehensive risk identification and evaluation.
Strategic Focus (Initial Priorities)
- The CRO will play a critical role in advancing the districts risk maturity, with an initial focus on:
- Aligning Corporate Governance with Clinical Quality & Patient Care Framework principles
- Implementing a single, integrated enterprise risk register across clinical and corporate portfolios
- Maturing the application of risk appetite and tolerance, embedding these concepts across the organisation
About You
- You are a strategic and collaborative leader with:
- Extensive experience in enterprise risk management, governance, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated ability to influence executive decision-making and drive organisational change
- Strong understanding of risk frameworks, systems, and culture-building
- Experience working within complex organisations, ideally in the health or public sector
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Why Join Us?
At HNELHD, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking organisation committed to delivering safe, high-quality healthcare. You will play a pivotal role in strengthening organisational resilience and supporting innovation across the District.
As part of your application, please upload an updated resume and a cover letter addressing the questions below:
- Describe your experience developing or maintaining an enterprise risk register. How did you ensure risks were identified, assessed, monitored and escalated appropriately across different portfolios?
- Describe your experience working with corporate governance, clinical governance, quality, safety or patient care frameworks. How have you aligned risk management practices with broader organisational priorities?
- What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities in strengthening enterprise risk management within a large public health organisation such as Hunter New England Local Health District?
What you'll be doing
The CRO advises the Executive team on risks and opportunities, helping them make informed decisions that align with the Board’s risk tolerance. They also support planning and delivery of programs by identifying risks and strategies to manage them.
The CRO guides risk assessment, analysis, and reporting, and helps develop processes to reduce risks that could affect organisational goals. They regularly report to the Board and Sub Committees, the Executive Leadership Team, the District Risk & Compliance Governance Committee (RCGC), and other groups, providing insights into key risks and trends across the organisation.
The role also involves working closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Directors to ensure risk management is integrated across their portfolios and projects. The CRO is involved early in major projects to encourage strong risk practices from the start and to help shape policies and planning.
1) Click here for the Position Description
2) Find out more about applying for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Nicole Taylor on Nicole.Taylor@health.nsw.gov.au
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: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2
Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp
This is a Category B position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_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 nswhealth@salarypackagingplus.com.au or 1300 40 25 23.
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.
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-diversity@health.nsw.gov.au for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier-free application process.
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.
An eligibility list will be created for future permanent full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies.
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