Director, Children's Cancer Centre

The Hospital:

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Vision is “A world where all kids thrive”.

RCH is a cornerstone member of the Melbourne Children’s Campus, partnering with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

RCH has cared for the children and young people of Victoria for more than 150 years since it was founded in 1870. A full range of paediatrics and adolescent health services are provided plus tertiary and quaternary care for the most critically ill and medically complex patients in Victoria, Tasmania, southern NSW and other states around Australia and overseas. The Hospital has more than 6,000 staff, a budget of $850M, 12 wards and 350 beds. Annually, the RCH has 300,000+ Specialist Clinic appointments, 90,000+ Emergency Department presentations and 20,000 elective surgeries.

The RCH is committed to the Child Safe Standards. 

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact.

For further Information on RCH is available here.

Director, Children's Cancer Centre (CCC)

• Work for Australia’s leading Children’s Hospital
• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Senior leadership opportunity

About the Role

This part-time (0.7 FTE) three-year fixed-term position as the Director of the Children’s Cancer Centre, is a pivotal leadership role within the Division of Medicine, guiding the Centre in alignment with the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) vision, values, and strategic direction. Reporting to the General Manager (Specialty Medical Units) and Chief of Medicine, the Director is accountable for the Centre’s overall strategic and operational performance, as measured by defined key performance indicators.

This role is responsible for ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, timely, and patient-centred care, while also fostering excellence in education and research. A key priority is maintaining the Centre’s financial sustainability and operational efficiency, supported by a strong culture of staff engagement and professional development. The Director also plays a critical role in cultivating effective, collaborative relationships with internal teams, partner institutions, and external stakeholders, ensuring the Centre remains at the forefront of paediatric oncology care and innovation.

What you’ll achieve:

• Fostering a high-performance culture that aligns to the RCH Operational Excellence Framework.
• Promoting an environment of co-operation and continual improvement of team performance, patient outcomes and experience.
• Identifying, building, and maintaining strong working relationships with all internal non-clinical services, clinical units; external stakeholders, and with the campus partners.
• Facilitating and driving high quality original research in the Department, including building, and supporting relevant internal and external research collaborations.
• Collaboratively developing and contributing to the educational activities of the department to facilitate a learning environment.

Your skills and experience:

• Eligible for specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency.
• Fellowship with a relevant college.
• Formal leadership training is desirable.
• A higher degree such as MD or PhD is desirable. 
• Experience in a major public teaching hospital preferably at department/director level or demonstrated experience leading a department and or large group of professionals.

If this sounds like you, click  here to view the position description.

About the Children's Cancer Centre 

The Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) is Victoria’s leading provider of complex paediatric cancer care and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Internationally recognised for its leadership in clinical care and research, the CCC manages approximately 300 new cancer diagnoses in children under 18 each year. With a strong commitment to excellence, the Centre delivers world-class diagnosis, treatment, research, and compassionate, family-centred care. Located within a globally renowned paediatric health and research precinct, the CCC comprises:

• Specialist inpatient wards, including dedicated bone marrow transplant beds 
• A purpose-built Day Oncology Unit
• Integrated outpatient clinics, supported by a multidisciplinary allied health team
• A dedicated oncology pharmacy
• An advanced clinical research program, featuring cutting-edge laboratory facilities, a clinical trials unit, and a centralised administrative hub 

The Centre is led by the Director, who sets the strategic direction and clinical vision for the CCC. In partnership with the Operations Manager, the Director is responsible for overseeing service delivery, staff leadership, and operational performance to ensure optimal patient outcomes and continuous service improvement. In addition, the Director collaborates closely with the University of Melbourne’s Endowed Chair in Childhood Cancer, aligning the Centre’s research priorities with strategic initiatives across the Melbourne Children’s Campus and the broader Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance, based within the Parkville Precinct. 

What we offer:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!
• Parkville location and close to public transport
• Culture of continuous improvement
   

Other requirements:

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Compliance with RCHs “Staff Immunisation - Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases” procedure

Application process 

To apply, you will need a resume and a tailored cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the position in line with the requirements of the position description

You must attach certified credentials and a completed “SMS Application for Appointment Form”

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, we encourage you to apply promptly!

For more information about this position please contact: Tamara Rumble, General Manager, Special Medical Units at Tamara.Rumble@rch.org.au.

Why work at the RCH?

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact. We offer the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, surrounded by Royal Park and only a short tram trip from the heart of Melbourne city.

We also offer discounted staff parking, salary packaging, and an award-winning health and wellbeing program.

The RCH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

It is a requirement of your employment that you be vaccinated against Influenza annually for Category A and B roles, in compliance with any public health orders in place at the relevant time, unless you have a medical exception in line with those public health orders, which has been accepted by The Royal Children’s Hospital.  Applicants will be required to provide their Australian Government Immunisation History Statement, it is a requirement of the RCH to collect, record and hold vaccination information.

It is also a requirement of your employment that you comply with any direction given by The Royal Children’s Hospital that you be vaccinated against, or prove immunity to, any other disease, unless you have a relevant exemption

Are you ready to join our team? 

 Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button

Applications close 11 August 2025