Position overview

The Project Officer – Sterilising Services is responsible for leading the planning, coordination and delivery of a defined portfolio of complex strategic and operational projects that support the enhancement, expansion and optimisation of Sterilising Services across Canberra Health Services.

Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the position provides specialist advice and project leadership across infrastructure, equipment, digital systems and service redesign initiatives. The role is responsible for delivering project outcomes within agreed timeframes, budgets and governance frameworks while ensuring compliance with relevant legislative, regulatory and organisational requirements.

The Project Officer will lead project planning, procurement activities, stakeholder engagement, risk management, implementation and evaluation activities associated with sterilising services projects. This includes projects involving facility refurbishment, implementation of specialised reprocessing technologies, optimisation of instrument tracking systems and service expansion initiatives.

The position requires extensive knowledge of sterilising services, including the reprocessing of reusable medical devices (RMDs), sterilisation technologies, workflow design, and relevant standards including AS/NZS 4187. The role applies this specialist expertise to inform project design, support decision-making and ensure project outcomes align with clinical, operational and compliance requirements.

Working collaboratively with clinical services, engineering, ICT, procurement, contractors and external providers, the Project Officer facilitates the successful delivery of projects within complex healthcare environments while maintaining a focus on safety, quality, service continuity and future service capability.

The position does not have direct line management responsibility but may provide project leadership, coordination and guidance to multidisciplinary project teams and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

1. Project Leadership and Delivery
   Lead the planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of a portfolio of complex Sterilising Services projects, ensuring delivery within agreed timeframes, budgets, quality standards and governance requirements.
2. Infrastructure and Facility Improvement
   Manage the delivery of infrastructure refurbishment and facility enhancement projects, including coordination of design, construction, specialist services integration and operational commissioning to support compliant and efficient sterilising services operations.
3. Equipment and Technology Implementation
   Coordinate the procurement, installation, validation and commissioning of specialised sterilising and reprocessing equipment, ensuring integration with operational workflows, technical requirements and relevant standards.
4. Digital Systems and Process Optimisation
   Lead projects to enhance digital systems and instrument tracking capabilities, including optimisation of T-Doc and associated technologies, to improve traceability, data integrity, workflow efficiency and business continuity.
5. Service Planning and Expansion
   Undertake service planning and analysis activities to support the expansion and optimisation of sterilising services, including assessment of infrastructure, workflow, logistics and resource requirements for new and emerging service demands.
6. Technical Advice and Compliance
   Provide specialist advice relating to reusable medical device reprocessing, sterilisation technologies, facility design and operational requirements, ensuring project outcomes align with AS/NZS 4187, infection prevention principles and organisational policies.
7. Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management
   Develop and maintain productive relationships with clinical services, engineering, ICT, procurement teams, contractors and external providers, facilitating consultation, communication and change management activities to support successful project outcomes.
8. Governance, Risk and Reporting
   Monitor project performance and manage project governance activities, including risk assessment, issue resolution, reporting, documentation, business case development and provision of strategic advice to senior executives and governance committees.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and work programs within a large and diverse organisation.
• Advanced specialist knowledge of sterilising services, reusable medical device reprocessing and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Highly developed analytical, conceptual and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify risks and develop practical solutions to complex issues.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across multidisciplinary environments.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality reports, business cases, project documentation and strategic advice for senior executives.
• Proven ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

Specific qualifications include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Certificate III or IV in Sterilising Services or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of AS/NZS 4187 and infection prevention standards.
• Relevant project management training or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Recognised tertiary qualifications in Management or related disciplines.
• Certificate 3 or Certificate 4 in Sterilising.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Specific experience includes but is not limited to the following.

Essential

• Demonstrated experience in Sterilising Services, including reprocessing of reusable medical devices (RMDs).
• Proven experience delivering complex end-to-end projects in a healthcare or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience managing equipment implementation, validation, and commissioning.
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desirable

• Experience delivering infrastructure or health facility upgrade projects.
• Experience or knowledge in the implementation and management of tracking systems such as T‑Doc Experience supporting service expansion (e.g. dental, endoscopy, perioperative integration).
• Knowledge of water treatment systems (e.g. RO systems) in sterilising environments.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and programs within a healthcare or similarly regulated environment, including planning, implementation, governance, risk management and delivery of project outcomes.
2. Demonstrated specialist knowledge of sterilising services operations, reusable medical device reprocessing, sterilisation technologies and relevant standards including AS/NZS 4187, and the ability to apply this expertise to project delivery and service improvement initiatives.
3. Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify and manage project risks, resolve complex technical issues and develop evidence-based recommendations to support decision making.
4. Demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate with multidisciplinary stakeholders, including clinicians, engineers, ICT specialists, contractors and executives - to deliver project outcomes, supported by strong written and verbal communication skills and experience producing executive briefs, business cases, technical documentation and governance reports.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.