Principal Policy Officer, Health and Innovation Precincts in Sydney

Join the Office for Health and Medical Research at Ministry of Health for an exciting temporary assignment ending 30 June 2028 and be part of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day.

Our core values of Collaboration, Openness, Respect, and Empowerment are more than just words – they are the guiding principles that shape every aspect of our work. We are committed to your growth and development, providing the resources and opportunities you need to excel in your career. Join a passionate, dynamic and flexible team dedicated to innovation and creativity. While regular office presence is essential, we offer flexible work arrangements to support your needs. Committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace for all.

As a Principal Policy Officer within the Office for Health and Medical Research, you will lead a small team delivering strategic and coordinated support for Health and Innovation Precincts across the state to deliver better health and economic outcomes. Working closely with senior executives and stakeholders across NSW Health and our Health and Innovation Precincts, you and your team will influence outcomes to support the delivery of NSW Health's Research and Innovation Strategy 2025-2030, particularly Strategic Outcome 4: A Place-Based Foundation.

With your experience in collaboration, evaluation and impact and your strengths in flexibility and influencing, you can contribute to the millions of ways we are enhancing health and wellness while developing your career as part of the largest health organisation in Australia.

• Lead, facilitate and manage policies and programs that support Health and Innovation Precincts and recognise their diversity, stage of development and maturity.
• Increase synergy and integration through the statewide network of Health and Innovation Precincts to accelerate and scale translation of research innovation to equitable and sustainable patient and health system impact.
• Provide strategic advice to senior stakeholders on complex and sensitive precinct matters.

The role does not determine individual Health and Innovation Precinct strategies, priorities or partnerships, but provides specialist expertise to support Precincts and increase opportunities and visibility of their impact.

You'll thrive in this role if you are a strategic and outcomes-focused partnerships professional with a proven ability to influence, negotiate and build lasting relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including government, industry, research institutions, and community stakeholders. You excel at building trust through transparent, two-way communication and are skilled at managing situations where feedback may be mixed or challenging.

You have a growth mindset, a commitment to continuous learning and personal development, for yourself and your team. You demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and a solution-focused approach to managing competing and shifting priorities in a small dynamic team environment.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated success in developing and managing strategic partnerships and networks and facilitating collaborative decision-making.
• Experience establishing governance frameworks and performance evaluation and monitoring processes.
• Strong project leadership skills, including managing complex initiatives, risks, resources and reporting requirements, with the ability to navigate complex and competing priorities.
• Significant knowledge and understanding of policies and legislation impacting on health and medical research, health and innovation precincts and related matters.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in health, life sciences, management or a related discipline.

At the Ministry of Health, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and flexible environment which reflects the community and customers we serve. We actively promote the employment of women, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and would like assistance with your application or to obtain more information on how to apply, please visit The Stepping Up Initiative.

To be eligible for employment in these roles you must be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, or hold a valid visa with permission to work in Australia.

This recruitment may be used to create a Talent Pool for similar future roles (ongoing or temporary) that may arise over the next 18 months. This is a temporary role and there may be opportunities for ongoing employment at grade.

Please note that the selection process will include a range of comparative assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.