• Maximum-term contract to 30 June 2024
• Genuine opportunity to facilitate positive change in this newly created position
• Satisfying mix of strategic and hands-on work
• Market salary with generous NFP salary packaging available

As an alliance of 10 organisations, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) has a unique opportunity to enable sustainable systems change through careful, collaborative action focused on challenges difficult for individual organisations to address. Supported by new funding from the Victorian Government, over the next 3.5 years the alliance will continue its ground-breaking work developing and implementing innovative programs aimed to improve outcomes for patients with cancer.

About the Opportunity

The position of Manager, Health Equity is a new role, funded to build on the work the VCCC has successfully embarked on in identifying and addressing barriers for underserved groups. This role will manage a new program of work with the primary objective of increasing attention on addressing inequities in the cancer health sector.

The broad aims of the program, within the framework of the VCCC Strategic Program Plan, forming the basis for the work to be undertaken over the next 3.5 years include:

• Establishing an advisory group to ensure the needs of underserved populations are addressed in the work of the VCCC now and into the future

• Leading collaboration across the VCCC alliance and with external partners to ensure the VCCC is complementing and building on the work of others to improve equity of cancer outcomes
• Developing a methodological framework to ensure the VCCC adds maximum value to improving equity of cancer outcomes
• Developing, implementing and evaluating interventional strategies to address inequities in cancer outcomes:
  • Key priority groups identified to date include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and, over time, additional groups and issues may be identified.

This is a full-time opportunity through to mid-2024.

Key Responsibilities:

Working in partnership with a Cancer Health Equity Steering Group and Chair, the Manager, Health Equity will develop and implement initiatives to address issues contributing to inequities in cancer outcomes, including:

• Developing, strengthening and leveraging collaborative working relationships across multiple organisations, including both VCCC members and external stakeholders, relevant to developing the objectives of the program
• Establishing advisory mechanisms, including a VCCC Health Equity Advisory Group and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group and supporting implementation of associated programs of work
• Undertaking key activities required to inform program development such as conducting mapping exercises, needs assessments and evidence reviews to ensure the VCCC is building on, aligning with and adding value to the work of others
• Developing frameworks and tools to support VCCC programs identify and address equity issues
• Supporting Steering Group meetings through development of agendas and workplans, and through documenting decisions and outcomes
• Encouraging early opportunities for the inclusion of VCCC cancer consumer representatives to inform program development
• Coordinating roles supported by the program and located at member organisations to ensure a ‘community of practice’ and harmonisation of purpose
• Tracking program and project budgets and ensuring compliance with the VCCC Program Management Framework and budget requirements and program evaluation measures and outcomes
• With a program management hat on, the role will also collaborate with colleagues within the VCCC Collective Impact Team to develop a communications strategy, generate research-relevant metrics, evaluate and report on program outcomes and consider how to best include the perspective of consumers and vulnerable groups.

About You:

As the Manager, Health Equity, you will work as an integral member of the VCCC Collective Impact team and play a key role in shaping and driving the plan for enabling equity program objectives. You will bring sensitivity, passion and knowhow developed through your significant experience gained working in the health equity sector. You will be resourceful and well networked, with outstanding influencing and communications skills. You will be comfortable and well-practiced in engaging with existing and new audiences, supporting and guiding collaborative groups and be comfortable with the hands-on organisation this requires, working with a small not for profit team.

You will be an adaptable and resourceful individual and pride yourself on your ability to connect the dots and bring people together to achieve results. You will be patient, comfortable with ambiguity and able to develop and further a program of work with a spirit of consensus and inclusion.

You will have:

• Significant experience developing and implementing programs to address inequities in health

• Significant major project or program management experience, particularly of collaborative impact programs addressing complex challenges

• Significant experience effectively managing the requirements of a wide range of stakeholders, including organisations working with or representing the interests of people from underserved populations
• Demonstrated experience facilitating effective processes to identify priority areas for action in fields where there are multiple stakeholders and many needs.

• A tertiary degree (preferably a postgraduate qualification) in a relevant discipline such public health, public policy, sociology or health sciences

• Proven experience and skill in building strong and sustainable relationships to build consensus and achieve stronger results together

About the VCCC:

The vision for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) is to save lives through the integration of consumer-engaged cancer research, education and patient care.

Founded in the holistic principles of the internationally-recognised Comprehensive Cancer Centre model, the VCCC alliance brings together 10 of Victoria’s leading research, academic, and clinical institutions to achieve what can only be done through state-wide collaboration. Together we will improve outcomes in cancer in metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria, and forge new approaches to cancer research, education, and patient care for all.

The VCCC’s multi-site, multi-disciplinary model brings together the complementary strengths of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health (including The Royal Melbourne Hospital), the University of Melbourne, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Western Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (including St Vincent's Institute), Austin Health (including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and Austin Lifesciences) and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

VCCC is made up of a tight-knit team of staff who form the backbone working to facilitate the power of collective impact across the VCCC alliance and beyond.

Team Values

• Better Together we connect and support to empower sustainable change
• Integrity we are respectful of the cancer community and accountable for our contribution
• Bold we cultivate ideas and dare to innovate
• Patient-Centred we place patients with cancer at the centre of all we do
• For All we champion equity of cancer care for every Victorian

Equity & Inclusion

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive work environment, free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, bullying, vilification and victimisation.

Contact for Enquiries:

For a confidential conversation regarding the role, please contact Kate Silburn, Head of Quality & Strategic Initiatives on 0408 565 042.

Secondment: With the ongoing objective of enhancing relationships with our alliance partners, this position may be able to be arranged as a secondment within a VCCC member organisation. Employees within the VCCC alliance are encouraged to contact Caroline Bando, Business Partner, People & Culture on 0407 042 369 to discuss the possibility of a suitable arrangement.

A copy of the position description is attached to this ad and is also available on the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre website along with further information about the organisation: www.viccompcancerctr.org/opportunities/