Overview
With the recent appointment of Brock Goodall to the Governance Manager role within the Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Group, the position of Senior Pastoral & SDA Church Engagement Lead has become available.
Sanitarium is seeking Expressions of Interest from suitable candidates.
This pivotal role provides spiritual leadership, pastoral oversight, and strategic direction for faith-based engagement across the organisation. It is a rare opportunity to shape and steward Sanitarium’s Seventh-day Adventist heritage within a modern, inclusive, and purpose-led environment.
This role is ideal for an experienced pastoral leader who is passionate about supporting people, nurturing organisational culture, and strengthening meaningful connections with SDA Church communities across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
About the Role
The Senior Pastoral & SDA Church Engagement Lead will provide comprehensive chaplaincy and pastoral leadership by:
* Overseeing chaplaincy services across all Sanitarium sites.
* Ensuring high-quality, consistent, values aligned pastoral care for employees and their families.
* Supporting and developing the chaplaincy team through coaching, mentoring, and spiritual guidance.
* Serving as a trusted pastoral presence for senior leaders and employees during significant organisational moments.
The role also strengthens purpose and faith identity by:
* Bringing Sanitarium’s SDA heritage and mission to life through programs, leadership initiatives, and cultural touchpoints.
* Partnering with People & Culture, Communications, and senior leadership to embed faith identity respectfully within the employee experience.
* Providing counsel on values, wellbeing, and appropriate expressions of faith in the workplace.
Additionally, the role focuses on building church and community relationships, including:
* Strengthening connections with SDA Church leadership, local conferences, unions, and congregations.
* Representing Sanitarium in Church forums alongside the CEO.
* Fostering engagement between local churches and Sanitarium’s factory and office sites.
The role also leads key ambassador and faith-based programs such as Life Matters, Family Matters (including Kids’ Vacation Care & Kids’ Day Out), and Prayer Matters, ensuring strong governance, safeguarding, and meaningful spiritual impact. The position further oversees governance, strategy, and SDA faith resources to ensure programs are compliant, well supported, and delivered with respect and integrity.
The role provides oversight of Sanitarium’s established pastoral service initiatives, including:
* Life Matters – Daily reflection on life purpose and meaning, including thanksgiving and corporate programs.
* Care Matters – Pastoral support for individuals, teams, and workgroups.
* Family Matters – Dedicated family support, including leave and vacation programs.
* Prayer Matters – An intercessory prayer program across the business.
What we are looking for:
* A significant pastoral background and experience, demonstrating a deep understanding of pastoral care principles, spiritual leadership, and the ability to support individuals and teams through a wide range of personal and organisational circumstances.
* Commissioned or Ordained Minister credentials within the Seventh day Adventist Church, ensuring alignment with Sanitarium’s faith foundations and the ability to represent the organisation authentically in Church related settings.
* Strong strategic thinking, with the capacity to interpret organisational needs, anticipate emerging challenges, and contribute to long term planning that strengthens faith identity and pastoral services.
* Effective planning and organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple programs, coordinate resources, and deliver initiatives with clarity, structure, and consistency across diverse locations.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly, provide meaningful counsel, facilitate sensitive discussions, and engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
* The ability to manage and influence people constructively, guiding teams with empathy and authority, building trust, and supporting leaders in embedding Sanitarium’s values across the organisation.
* The ability to build positive relationships across all organisational levels, fostering collaboration, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, and nurturing strong connections with church communities and local congregations.
The role works closely with People & Culture and Corporate Communications, and operates under a dual reporting line to:
* Executive General Manager – Sanitarium Australia & New Zealand
* Chief Executive Officer – Sanitarium Health Group
Location
* Based at Sanitarium’s Berkeley Vale Head Office, Central Coast, Australia.
* Travel is required.
How to Apply
Please forward your Expression of Interest, including your CV, to:
Peter Hartnett
General Manager People and Culture
Email:
Applications close: 30 April 2026