Programme Director - Planning, Funding and Outcomes

• Based anywhere in South Island | Te Waipounamu, Permanent Full-time role

• Turn regional health priorities into action and lead complex programmes that make a meaningful difference.

• Work alongside clinical and operational leaders to shape more connected, sustainable services across Te Waipounamu.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

Help turn ambition for a better-connected health system into practical, measurable change. As a Programme Director, you will mobilise, coordinate and deliver complex programmes across Te Waipounamu, bringing structure, clarity and momentum to regional priorities. Programmes of work may include modernising ambulatory care, strengthening regional service frameworks, district recovery and financial sustainability initiatives, and others. Your work will help improve access, outcomes and the way services work together.

You will translate strategy into actionable programmes, establish milestones and assurance arrangements, resolve delivery challenges and keep leaders informed about progress, risks and decisions. Working in partnership with regional clinical leads and district teams, you will align clinical, operational, financial, workforce and digital perspectives around shared goals. You will influence through collaboration rather than formal authority, while building regional and district capability through targeted support, coaching and knowledge transfer.

About the Team and Location

Based in Te Waipounamu within Regional Planning, Funding and Outcomes, you will report to the Group Manager – Integration, Planning, Improvement & System Change. You will work across planning, funding and outcomes regional teams, district Hospital and Specialist leadership teams, partnering with clinical leaders, Finance, Workforce and Digital Services. This is an opportunity to take a whole-of-system view, strengthen regional ways of working and help districts deliver improvements with wider regional impact.

About you

You are an experienced programme or transformation leader who can turn complex challenges into clear priorities and sustained delivery. You bring relevant graduate and postgraduate qualifications, at least 10 years' senior programme, transformation or system leadership experience within health or the public sector and demonstrated experience operating at Programme Director level or closely alongside executive leadership. You build trust across professional boundaries, bring sound judgement to ambiguity and maintain resilience, integrity and discretion under pressure. You will bring:

• A proven record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder programmes with measurable benefits.

• Strong understanding of Hospital & Specialist Services, Planning, Funding and Outcomes, and regional health system dynamics.

• Experience working across planning, performance, finance and clinical domains to deliver joined-up solutions.

• The ability to translate executive strategy into practical programmes, with clear milestones, risk management and delivery assurance.

• A collaborative leadership style that builds trusted relationships, secures commitment and achieves results through influence.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to synthesise complex data into clear advice and actionable decisions.

• Demonstrated experience applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in practice and supporting improved access and outcomes for Māori.

• High-level political awareness and sound judgement, with the adaptability to bring clarity and pace to complex, high-pressure environments.

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 11:59PM Thursday 29 October 2026. For further information, please contact Jenita Spencer on Jenita.Spencer@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

The full position description is available on the Health New Zealand Careers site.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.