National Dietetics Manager — help bring joy to every mealtime
At Opal HealthCare, our purpose is simple: to bring joy to those we care for — and food is one of the most powerful ways we do it. We’re looking for a National Dietetics Manager to provide national strategic and operational leadership across nutrition and dietetics services, shaping how nutrition, hydration, menus and dining experiences come to life for more than 13,900 residents across 148 Care Communities nationally
This is an enterprise-level role with the influence to set standards, lift quality, reduce risk and embed evidence-based practice — while keeping resident choice, enjoyment and wellbeing at the centre of every decision.
What you’ll lead (and why it matters)
You’ll be the senior dietetics voice contributing to our national food strategy and day-to-day excellence, including:
- Food Services Strategy & enterprise leadership — providing authoritative advice to senior leaders on nutrition risks, opportunities and best practice
- National Menu & Mealtime Assessment Program — scheduling, preparing and delivery, ensuring consistency, and actionable improvement planning across every Care Community.
- Menu quality, compliance & continuous improvement — reviewing and approving seasonal menus to ensure nutritional adequacy, governance alignment and resident needs.
- National nutrition & hydration programs — developing and implementing evidence-based initiatives, including embedding a food-first approach to weight maintenance and nutrition support.
- Collaborating with hospitality — partnering closely with the National Hospitality Manager and teams to improve nutritional outcomes while enhancing choice and enjoyment at mealtimes.
- Governance, quality & risk — strengthening policies, procedures and risk management frameworks; ensuring compliance with legislation, accreditation standards and evidence-based guidelines.
- Insight-driven reporting — enabling data-driven decision making through quality insights and summary reports
You’ll report to the Head of Operational Excellence and work collaboratively across national, regional and local leadership teams, as well as external providers.
What you’ll bring
You’re a credible, calm expert who can move between strategy and operations — and bring stakeholders with you. You’ll have:
- A recognised degree in Dietetics & Nutrition and eligibility for membership with Dietitians Australia.
- Proven experience leading and evaluating national or multi-regional dietetics/nutrition services, including strategic clinical and operational planning.
- Strong capability in governance, quality initiatives and risk management, with confidence influencing senior leaders.
- Demonstrated experience in menu planning for vulnerable or high-risk populations, plus change leadership and continuous improvement mindset.
- High-level communication, advocacy and negotiation skills — including partnering effectively with external dietetics and allied health providers.
Why this role is different
This is not “just” a dietetics leadership role — it’s a chance to shape what good looks like at scale: consistent nutrition standards, safer care, better dining experiences, and measurable improvements that are felt by residents every day.
Ready to bring national impact to the table?
If you’re energised by evidence-based practice and the human side of mealtimes — choice, dignity, enjoyment and wellbeing — we’d love to hear from you.
Apply with your CV and a short cover note outlining your national/multi-site leadership experience and your approach to menu governance and mealtime quality.
All applicants must be willing to obtain a police clearance certificate via Opal HealthCare’s police check system.
