Health director general Kim Snowball has tendered his resignation, saying that the demands of the job had taken a toll on his personal and family life.
Mr Snowball will finish as director general of the Health Department in March upon the completion of three months' notice.
"The role of Health director general is extremely rewarding but also very demanding. To successfully do this job means some sacrifice of family and personal life," he said.
"I am confident that I leave Health in good shape with a strong leadership team who are focussed on the right things for the future."
Mr Snowball was appointed to serve as director general of the health department for five years in 2010 but, like predecessor Peter Flett, will not see out his full term.
He said the department had "improved patient care in the face of extraordinary growth in demand", citing an 8 per cent annual growth in emergency department attendances over the past three years as evidence of the challenges facing medical professionals in Western Australia.