Operational Lead, Harm Reduction & Integrated Care

Who are we?

Sonder is an inclusive, not-for-profit organisation that has been providing better quality health and support services to the South Australian community since 1993. We support thousands of people each year to access services across seven key domains – Mental Health, Aboriginal Health, Alcohol and/or other Drugs, Employment, Community Health, Disability, and Homelessness

What benefits can we offer?

When you work with Sonder, you become part of the Sonder family and that provides you with a number of benefits such as:

• Salary (excluding super) paid above award and reviewed annually

• Flexible working arrangements

• Professional development allowance provided yearly

• Generous salary packaging options - increase your take home pay by 6-12%

• 17.5% Leave Loading

• Modern and welcoming office spaces

• Christmas Closure Bonus Leave (above annual leave entitlements)

• Training opportunities

• Meal & entertainment allowances

• Paid parental leave, and much more!

Sonder are open to negotiating further benefits with the successful applicant to ensure an excellent working environment for you.

Hours: Full-time (1.0FTE)

Contract: Ongoing

Location: Kaurna Country, Sonder Port Adelaide

More Information & Position Description via this link: https://bit.ly/4xc9dsR

About the Role:

Join Sonder in a senior leadership role driving excellence across South Australia’s integrated substance use, comorbidity, and harm reduction services.

As the Operational Lead – Harm Reduction & Integrated Care, you will provide operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of community-based programs, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, person-centred services that achieve meaningful outcomes for clients and communities. You will champion operational efficiency, and ensure service performance, contract compliance, reporting, stakeholder partnerships, and continuous improvement initiatives, while fostering strong integration across mental health, community services, and primary care.

Leading multidisciplinary teams that include clinical professionals and lived experience workers, you will champion evidence-informed practice, innovation, co-design, and equity-focused service delivery. You will be responsible for leading a dynamic and cohesive team culture. The role also plays a key part in identifying growth opportunities and strengthening pathways across harm reduction, treatment, recovery, and addiction services throughout South Australia.

This role specifically provides leadership across three integrated programs, In-Home Withdrawal Service (IHWS), Alcohol and Other Drug Intervention & Management (AIM) & Partners Toward Wellbeing (PTW).

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operational leader who is passionate about service innovation, integrated care, and improving outcomes for people experiencing substance use and mental health challenges.

Experience Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience leading complex health, human and community services, including service operations, model design and continuous improvement in integrated multidisciplinary environments.

• Significant experience designing and improving service models addressing substance use, mental health and related social determinants.

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams, including clinical and lived experience workforces, in high-demand environments.

• Demonstrated experience in operational and clinical governance, including risk, quality and performance oversight.

• Experience contributing to strategic planning, service system development and commissioning processes, including interpretation of funding agreements and performance frameworks.
  

Qualification and Other Requirements:

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline such as health sciences, health management, public health, allied health, nursing, social sciences or community services, or equivalent, or;

• Equivalent combination of qualifications and substantial operational leadership experience in health, community services, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, or related sectors.

• Current or willing to obtain a Working with Children's Check (WWCC)

• Current or willing to obtain a National Police Check (NPC)

• Employment is subject to compliance with Sonder’s Immunisation Policy. Applicants must hold, or be willing to obtain, all vaccinations and immunisations required for the role.

How to apply:

Applicants are requested to send a cover letter and resume to Sonder via our careers portal on our website.

Feel free to send any enquiries to [email protected]

Advert Closing Date: Monday 22 June 2026

At Sonder, we strive to respond to all applicants. However, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may only be able to contact those shortlisted for the role. Thank you for your understanding.