Lead Contract Management for a National Mental Health Reform Initiative
Contribute to a National Mental Health Initiative
Play a key role in supporting the delivery of the Medicare Mental Health Check-In, a nationally significant program designed to improve access to early mental health support for Australians.
Work Across a Complex Multi-Partner Ecosystem
Engage with government stakeholders, digital health partners and cross-functional teams to manage contracts within a large-scale, innovative service model.
Apply Commercial Expertise in a Purpose-Driven Organisation
Use your contract management and governance expertise within a mission-driven health organisation focused on delivering compassionate care and transforming Australia’s health system.
Employment Type: Full-time fixed-term contract for 2 years, with the potential for review and transition to a permanent position. This is a hybrid role based in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne (SVHA Group Offices).
What if your next contracts role helped transform how Australians access mental health care?
St Vincent’s Health Australia has partnered with the Australian Government to deliver the Medicare Mental Health Check-In (MMHCI) — a new national digital mental health service designed to help Australians access care earlier.
This program brings together six national partners across technology, clinical workforce, digital innovation and lived experience to deliver a new model of accessible mental health support.
We are now seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to support the successful delivery of this nationally significant program.
In this role you will work across government contracts, multi-partner consortium arrangements, digital health programs and large-scale service delivery, ensuring contractual obligations are met while proactively managing risk and supporting program success.
This is a rare opportunity to apply your commercial, governance and contract management expertise within a purpose-driven national healthcare initiative.
About St Vincent’s Health Australia
St Vincent’s Health Australia is one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit health and aged care providers, founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1857.
Today our 30,000-strong workforce delivers care across public hospitals, private hospitals, aged care, home care and virtual care services throughout NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
Our vision is that every person, wherever they are, receives excellent and compassionate care within a better and fairer health and aged care system.
Our strategic priorities are to:
Enhance Impact-Continuously improve care outcomes for patients, people and our planet.
Connect Care-Build “One St Vincent’s” to deliver the future of connected health and aged care.
Transform the System-Work with partners to shape a better and fairer health system for Australia.
About Your New Role
As the Contracts Manager – Medicare Mental Health Check-In, you will play a central role in supporting the organisation to meet its contractual obligations with the Australian Government and consortium partners. This is a Full-time fixed-term contract for 2 years, with the potential for review and transition to a permanent position based on organisational requirements and program continuity.
Working closely with the National Director Service Growth and the MMHCI leadership team, you will provide pragmatic and commercially focused contract management expertise across the lifecycle of the program.
You will work across program delivery, digital health innovation, government partnerships and partner governance to ensure contractual milestones, obligations and deliverables are achieved.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months
Within your first year in the role, success will include:
Establishing a strong understanding of the MMHCI program, consortium partner arrangements and government contract obligations
Developing effective contract governance processes and monitoring frameworks to support program delivery and compliance
Building trusted relationships with internal leadership teams, program delivery teams and consortium partners
Ensuring key contractual milestones, reporting requirements and deliverables are proactively managed and achieved
Identifying and mitigating contractual, financial and performance risks across the program lifecycle
Supporting the MMHCI leadership team to navigate contract variations, change requests and governance processes
Contributing to a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to contract management that supports the successful delivery of the national service
Key Responsibilities
Monitor and manage contractual obligations, milestones and deliverables across the MMHCI program lifecycle
Support compliance with the Australian Government contract and consortium partner agreements
Proactively identify and manage financial, legal and performance risks associated with program delivery
Provide advice on contract variations, change requests and contract compliance requirements
Maintain contract documentation and contract management systems
Support program delivery teams to operate within agreed scope, timelines and budgets
Assist in managing potential contract disputes and escalation processes
Partner with leaders across digital health, technology, clinical and operational teams
Build trusted relationships with government stakeholders and consortium partners
Provide solutions-focused contract management advice balancing compliance with delivery needs
Support cross-functional collaboration to achieve program outcomes and contractual performance requirements
About You
You are an experienced contracts or governance professional who thrives in complex program environments and enjoys working across multidisciplinary teams.
You bring a pragmatic and solutions-focused approach to contract management, combined with strong governance and stakeholder engagement capability.
Essential Experience
5+ years’ experience managing complex contracts or commercial agreements
Experience managing contractual obligations, compliance and risk in large programs or service delivery environments
Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing capability
Ability to balance contract governance with operational delivery outcomes
Excellent written, analytical and communication skills
Desirable Experience
Experience managing Australian Government contracts or funding agreements
Experience in healthcare, digital health or large service delivery environments
Experience working with technology vendors or multi-partner consortiums
Experience in risk, governance, program delivery or compliance frameworks
Why Join St Vincent’s?
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a national mental health reform initiative supporting thousands of Australians.
At St Vincent’s you will be part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to compassionate care, innovation and system transformation.
We offer:
Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
Salary packaging benefits available to not-for-profit employees (increase your take-home pay)
Opportunities to contribute to national healthcare transformation
A collaborative and supportive team environment
Career growth within one of Australia’s largest health organisations
Apply Now
If you are looking to apply your contract management expertise within a purpose-driven national healthcare initiative, we encourage you to apply.
Join St Vincent’s Health Australia and help transform access to mental health care across Australia.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following as part of their application:
An up-to-date CV
A tailored cover letter outlining your suitability for the role
Responses to the three mandatory application questions listed below
Please provide a maximum 500-word response for each question.
Applications must include all mandatory documentation and responses.
Applications submitted without the required CV, cover letter and responses to the mandatory questions will not be considered or progressed further in the recruitment process.
Mandatory Application Questions
Please provide a maximum 500-word response per question addressing the following:
1. Contract Management in Complex Programs
Describe your experience managing large-scale or complex contracts, particularly within multi-stakeholder environments. How did you ensure contractual obligations, milestones and deliverables were successfully achieved while managing risks and maintaining compliance?
2.Managing Risk, Change Requests and Contract Variations
Provide an example where you were required to manage contractual risk, change requests, or contract variations within a large program or project. What approach did you take to assess the situation, engage stakeholders and ensure the organisation remained compliant while maintaining delivery outcomes?
3.Stakeholder Management and Commercial Decision Making
This role requires working closely with government stakeholders, consortium partners and internal leadership teams. Please describe a situation where you successfully navigated complex stakeholder relationships to achieve a positive contractual or commercial outcome.
Please note: Applications are reviewed as they are received, and the position may close earlier than the listed closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.
Please see below for position description
SVHA has partnered with the Australian government to deliver a new, free national Medicare Mental Health Check In (MMHCI) early intervention mental health service to support Australians access care earlier. SVHA will provide this service with the support of six partners with technical, workforce, innovation and lived experience expertise. This MMHCI aligns with SVHA’s broader strategic goals of Bringing Care Home. The MMHCI Relationship and Contract Manager will support timely achievement of delivery milestones, advise the business of upcoming contractual obligations and deliverables to meet both the government’s requirements, as well as manage the deliverables and contractual requirements with SVHA’s six consortium partners.
Key Accountabilities
Contracts management and risk mitigation
One of the key responsibilities as Relationship and Contracts Manager will supporting the business pro-actively meet our contractual deliverables over the MMHCI three-year period, manage risks and provide pragmatic support.
· Working with other members of SVHA’s MMHCI team, you will be required, throughout the lifecycle of the project, to
proactively anticipate, identify, analyse and manage the financial, legal and performance risks that can impact the success of this strategically important contract with the Australian Government,
· You will be required to support our business understand and achieve our obligations (internal and external), deliver on
time, to budget and within scope. This also includes managing our contractual obligations and performance measures
with our six partners supporting SVHA to deliver MMHCI.
· This role requires an understanding of broader commercial objectives to provide pragmatic support on internal and
external compliance and supporting the business achieve acceptance and sign-off on contractual obligations.
· Respond to requests for advice from the business on managing Review Events/Change Requests/contract variations
· Regularly update the contract documentation system to capture any change requests/contract variations
· Support the business and clinical teams operate in an environment where contract disputes are minimised
· Advise on disputes resolution processes (if applicable), brief (internal and/or external Legal) as required to manage any disputes
Stakeholder Management
· Partner with SVHA’s MMHCI team, the executive leadership team, technology program directors, financial & administrative leaders, operational leaders, to support delivery of MMHCI.
· Provide practical, solutions-focused contract management that balances compliance with business and technology delivery needs.
· Build trusted relationships across SVHA’s Digital & Technology division, Corporate Services, hospitals, as well as external relationships with partners.
· Plan, organise and prioritise workloads effectively ensuring that timelines are met
· Only access confidential information held by SVHA when this is necessary for business purposes, maintaining the confidentiality of that information once accessed.
· Display adaptability and flexibility to meet the changing operational needs of the business.
· Display a willingness to develop self and seek to improve performance
· Other responsibilities as directed by MMHCI Program Director.
CAPABILITIES
Core Capability Description
Personal
Personal Effectiveness Executes Results – Sets and measures team goals, driving pursuit of higher standards of practice
Learning Agility Flexibility – Responds to new and complex situations by adjusting behaviour appropriately
Outcomes
Patient / Resident-Centred Patient Excellence – Monitors satisfaction levels and proactively addresses issues
Innovation & Improvement Continuous Improvement – Anticipates problems and continuously improves systems and processes
Strategy
Driving Results -Drives For Results – Takes ownership for performance of team results, with a commercial and customer focus
Organisational Acumen- Short-Term Planning – Uses information and organisational knowledge to make decisions and achieve results
People
Working With & Managing Others Leads Others – Shares responsibilities, providing support and effective communication
Collaboration Operates Cross Functionally – Develops constructive relationships across the organisation
OUR VALUES
Compassion-Our care is an act of love. We are present as they are, and as they need
Justice Our pursuit of what is right and just empowers us to speak and act with courage on behalf of those in need
Integrity Our actions and decisions are transparent and aligned with our values
Excellence Our services are safe and evidence-based, and we continually seek to improve in everything we do
Leadership Commitment
· We see and care deeply for the whole person, patient, resident, client, family, carer, colleague.
· We are kind in our thoughts, words, and actions.
· We act with courage, vulnerability, and authenticity.
· We champion equity for those most in need. We battle against inequity and harm to the community.
· We pursue “firsts” – we learn from outside and challenge what’s inside to deliver our best.
· We lead together as One St Vincent’s.
· We are extensively useful, by rolling up our sleeves. ·
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
Internal -SVHA MMHCI project team · MMHCI Digital & Technology leads · SVHA MMHCI Clinical leads · Executive Leadership Team · National Privacy Officer · SVHA Finance · SVHA Legal, if applicable · SVHA divisions including private hospitals, public hospitals, virtual and home care External · Australian government (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) · SVHA’s consortia (six partners)
External-law firms (if applicable – eg disputes resolution) ·
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Personal Attributes
Essential
· Prior experience managing large contracts = 5+ years
· Pragmatic, commercially oriented approach to contract management and compliance, costs management
Desirable:
· Prior experience managing contracts with the Australian government, technology partners, or healthcare contracts
· Experience in risk, compliance and governance
· Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management including capacity to engage and influence at a number of levels.
Technical
· Excellent written and verbal communication
· Knowledge and understanding of the Australian health landscape or a similar service industry
· Ability to represent the organisation to both internal and external stakeholders on matters relating to legal services
· Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including the proven ability to work across different audiences,
personalities and experience levels
PRE-EMPLOYMENT / APPOINTMENT SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
Immunisations
Category B (non-clinical-facing)-St Vincent’s has a duty of care under work health and safety legislation to eliminate and/or control the risk of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) in healthcare settings. You therefore must comply with the St Vincent’s Immunisation Policy, which, depending on the role you perform in the organisation will require you to undergo certain immunisations/vaccinations (e.g., Covid-19 and flu vaccinations).
Physical Requirements
Office environment / hybrid work arrangements
Other Pre-Employment or Appointment Screening Requirements
St Vincent’s requires that a reference check, 100 points of ID check, right-to-work check and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History check (NCCHC) are undertaken for all roles.
At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au
View Reconciliation Action Plan