Associate Director of Nursing (ADON) Mental Health & Addictions Nelson
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough · 5001+ employees
What the role involves
- Leading mental health services
- Supporting workforce development
- Ensuring regulatory compliance
What they ask for
Experienced nurse leader with proven clinical leadership in mental health, change management, operational experience, research and audit skills, and understanding of mental health legislation and best practices.
- Manages people
About the job
- Associate Director of Nursing, Mental Health &
Addictions Nelson Marlborough
- Key strategic and operation leadership role
- Permanent Full time
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.
About the Role
We are seeking an Associate Director of Nursing - Mental Health to join our leadership team.
You will play a key strategic and operational role in leading mental health services across HSS systems, inpatient, outpatient and community settings.
Promoting high standards of clinical care and continuous improvement.
About the Team/Service/ Location
You will be part of a supportive collaborative leadership team with opportunities for career growth with ongoing professional development and leadership training.
About you
Key responsibilities include providing strategic and operational leadership across mental health nursing services, supporting workforce development and implementation of evidence-based care models. The successful candidate will support workforce planning, recruitment, and professional development initiatives, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes and experiences, ensure compliance with regulatory standards and quality improvement frameworks and promote a culture of safety, compassion, and inclusivity
Ideal Candidate will be an experienced Nurse leader, previous Change Nurse Manager or Operational experience, have research and audit skills. The desired candidate will have proven expert level clinical leadership within mental health, be agile to lead change, manage system complexity, and help build strong teams. An understanding of the mental health legislation and MH&A policy and procedures, and best practices is essential.
Working at Health New Zealand
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.
How to Apply
To apply please click 'apply now.' All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 15 November 2026. If you have any general questions, please contact the nursing recruiter on Lee.Packer@tewhatuora.govt.nz or for more role specific questions please contact Selwyn Mason, General Manager MH&A on Selwyn.Mason@tewhatuora.govt.nz
We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.
Applying for this job
What to show on your CV
- It manages people. Say how many you've led, and what changed because of it.
- For the work it describes, like "Leading mental health services", give an example from your own experience, with a result you can talk about at an interview.
Our guides to the New Zealand CV format, cover letters and interview questions cover the rest.