- Lead a high-performing team and drive operational excellence across the region.
- Champion innovation and evidence-based practice in a complex service environment.
- Build trusted partnerships and influence outcomes at executive and system level.
The Position
The Regional Director is an executive leadership role tasked with shaping and delivering impact for children, families, and communities in South Australia. The Director provides strategic leadership and operational delivery within complex service environments, driving system reform, continuous improvement and practice excellence to strengthen service quality and outcomes.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive, the Director will oversee a region of approximately 300 staff working within a fast-paced and high impact environment. The remit includes executive oversight of critical services, sustaining operational leadership and energising front-line staff, and driving continuous improvement and innovation. The Director will be charged with assessing risks and opportunities to gain a sophisticated understanding of the operating environment in order to position the region for effective action and strategic progress, while maintaining momentum through ongoing reform and organisational change, with a focus on reducing the over-representation of aboriginal children in out of home care. As part of the executive leadership team, the role will contribute to statewide strategy through collective leadership, foster key partnerships and ensure strength in governance, risk management and stewardship.
The successful incumbent will demonstrate executive presence, developing a clear assessment of organisational capability, identifying immediate, medium and long-term requirements in line with the Departments strategic agenda. With the ability to build trusted relationships with a broad range of stakeholders within trauma-informed environments, the incumbent will bring strategic insight to support innovation and change. The successful candidate will demonstrate credible front-line child protection leadership experience or senior leadership experience from adjacent sectors, including health, education, NGOs, or human services. The ability to clearly articulate how prior experience is relevant to statutory child protection operations will be essential. A proven track record in complex high pressures environments, combined with the ability to influence across the system will be key, as will a commitment to build capability and team leadership development. The Regional Director will be recognised for calm authority, strategic vision, and capacity to drive reform and innovation in a dynamic environment.
The Organisation
The South Australian Department for Child Protection (DCP) was established in 2017 following major reform and continues to evolve as a contemporary, evidence-based child protection authority. The Office of Professional Practice and Learning, Excellence and Innovation Academy were created in 2024 to strengthen professional practice, embed a strong learning culture, and support a skilled, supported and future‑ready workforce.
The Department is widely regarded as innovative, progressing an Aboriginal‑led system for Aboriginal children and families. Recent enterprise agreement reforms and digital transformation initiatives further support workforce wellbeing, recognition and capability.
To apply – click ‘Apply Now’, using reference DPCreg426 addressing your cover letter and resume to Liz Jones and Sandra Kerr of Future Leadership™, or call 1300 347 437 for further information.
