Chief Operations Officer -Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is the peak body and professional membership association for all nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia. APNA champions the role of primary health care nurses; to advance professional recognition, ensure workforce sustainability and nurture leadership in health. We provide benefits to the 98,000+ nurses working across all primary health care settings.

OUR VISION is a healthy Australia through best practice primary health care nursing. OUR MISSION is to improve the health of Australians, through the delivery of quality, evidence-based care by a bold, vibrant and well supported primary health care nursing workforce.

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) leads APNA’s core operational functions to ensure the organisation is efficient, aligned and financially sustainable. The role oversees finance, people and culture, business operations, IT, membership operations, CRM, marketing and communications and the PMO. The COO is accountable for building coherent systems and shared ways of working that support APNA’s strategic priorities and reduce duplication and siloed behaviour. The position partners with the CEO and executive team to strengthen culture, embed organisational discipline and ensure APNA operates as One-APNA.

Operational Leadership

• Lead and integrate all central operational functions
• Establish One-APNA standards, tools and processes that improve coordination and efficiency
• Ensure operational readiness for programs, projects and member-facing services

Financial and Risk Stewardship

• Oversee budgeting, reporting and financial controls
• Strengthen risk, compliance and procurement processes
• Support organisational sustainability a value for money

People, Culture and Capability

• Lead people and culture to build performance, alignment and staff engagement
• Support cultural initiatives including safety, wellbeing and shared accountability
• Drive effective workforce planning and talent development

Business Operations and Technology

• Ensure high-quality business operations including IT systems, CRM, data and membership operations
• Improve system reliability, process efficiency and digital capability
• Strengthen business continuity and cyber security

Marketing, Communications and PMO

• Provide integrated marketing and communications that support APNA’s strategy
• Oversee PMO to ensure disciplined project lifecycle management
• Support scale or stop decisions and integration of pilots into BAU

Executive Partnership

• Partner with the CEO and executive team to drive strategic alignment
• Provide operational insight for executive and Board decision making
• Model collaborative, future-focused and values-based leadership

Key Selection Criteria

1. Leadership and Strategy: Senior experience leading multi-functional operations in complex or mission-driven environments with strong systems thinking and strategic judgement.
2. Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to integrate diverse functions, improve processes and strengthen organisation-wide discipline.
3. Financial and Risk Capability: Strong financial acumen with experience in budgets, controls, compliance and risk oversight.
4. People and Culture Leadership: Proven ability to build engaged teams, support cultural improvement and lead change with clarity and care.
5. Communication and Influence: Skilled communicator who builds trust, navigates complexity and works effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
6. Values and Alignment: Strong alignment with APNA’s values and commitment to One-APNA ways of working, subsidiarity and member value.

OUR VALUES

Better Together: We are passionate and collaborative, fostering an environment where diversity is valued, and all voices are heard.

Positive Disruptor: We are community-minded champions of change, innately curious and always open to innovation and ideas of the future. 

Pursue Excellence: We are evidence-based in our approach and hold our stakeholders and each other accountable as we strive for the highest standards of excellence. 

APPLY NOW

Other Articles

Published September 23, 2026

What Insurance Do We Need to Reduce Risk for Associations & NFPs?

Risk management is one of those areas that every association and not-for-profit Board knows is important - but it can sometimes become little more than a risk register reviewed once or twice a year.

Insurance can be treated in much the same way.

The organisation receives its annual insurance renewal, the premium is approved, the policy is renewed and everyone assumes the organisation is covered.

Read more

Published September 23, 2026

Who Really Decides Where Your Next Conference Is Being Held?

A practical look at volunteer governance, operational decision-making and what the events industry needs to understand about associations.

Read more

Published September 20, 2026

A $900 Membership Fee — And a Red Flag for Associations

Nick Koerbin has spent many years working with professional and industry associations, and he has developed a simple habit: whenever he meets a professional, he often asks whether they belong to their association — and whether they believe the membership is worth it.

A recent conversation with a young allied health professional raised some important questions about membership value, relevance and the expectations of the next generation.

In this article, Nick shares that conversation and challenges association leaders to consider a simple but confronting question:

Would the next generation of professionals in your sector believe your association is worth joining?

Read more