Department Manager - Nursing

_{02nd September, 2026}

The opportunity

This is a high-impact senior leadership opportunity for an experienced nursing and VET leader to take the helm of the largest department within the faculty. With delivery continuing to expand, the role offers genuine scale, complexity and influence.

You will lead through four coordinators, bringing teams together across Box Hill, Lilydale and the CBD. Your focus will be on creating clear direction, strengthening communication and developing a confident, capable team that works as one department.

Alongside people leadership, you will oversee education quality, ANMAC accreditation, operational performance and student outcomes, while contributing to the longer-term direction and continued development of the portfolio.

What you will be responsible for

• Lead, coach and develop four coordinators and their nursing education teams.
• Create a connected and collaborative culture with clear communication, shared priorities and strong ownership.
• Maintain robust oversight of ANMAC accreditation, VET compliance, quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Oversee workforce planning, timetabling, resources, budgets, course performance and department KPIs.
• Use financial, operational and performance data to guide decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Drive improvements in teaching delivery, student engagement, learning resources and the overall student experience.
• Build productive relationships across faculties and departments, as well as with industry and professional stakeholders.

What we are looking for

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) registration.
• Significant experience delivering ANMAC-accredited Diploma of Nursing programs within a TAFE environment.
• Strong senior leadership experience within a large or complex education setting, ideally leading through coordinators or other leaders.
• Deep understanding of the VET sector and demonstrated expertise in ANMAC accreditation requirements and regulatory obligations.
• A transparent and authentic communication style, with the ability to build trust, engage staff and lead confidently through change.
• The ability to balance hands-on operational leadership with strategic thinking and sound judgement.
• Strong analytical capability, including confidence working with financial, operational and performance data.
• A collaborative, people-focused approach with the credibility to work across campuses, faculties and stakeholder groups.
• A relevant degree or approved AQF Level 6 or above qualification.

Location

The portfolio is spread across Box Hill, Lilydale and the CBD, so regular presence across all three locations is important. This is a visible, hands-on leadership role and the successful person should expect to be on campus five days per week, staying close to staff and students across the department.

What the role offers

• A senior role with genuine visibility and influence across a major nursing education portfolio.
• The opportunity to lead a growing department through an important next chapter.
• The chance to make a tangible difference to staff experience, teaching quality and student outcomes.

How to apply

If you are an experienced nursing and VET leader who enjoys bringing people together, improving education quality and leading at scale, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your leadership experience, ANMAC expertise and TAFE nursing background.