Clinical Program Manager

Clinical Program Manager

Dunedin

Salary - $137,991 - 172,489 + Kiwisaver

• 1.0 FTE (40hrs per week) 24-month, fixed-term opportunity
• Lead and shape the future of rural health services with a focus on quality, innovation, and community impact.
• Join a supportive environment committed to equity, and meaningful health outcomes.

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

As Clinical Programme Manager, you’ll play a critical role in leading strategically significant initiatives that drive safer, smarter and more sustainable healthcare services across the Southern region. Reporting to the Southern Group Director of Operations, you will work at the intersection of clinical excellence, operational performance and organisational strategy — ensuring services are equipped to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients and communities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and supporting services to identify, assess and address risks that impact patient safety and experience.
• Providing targeted leadership to at-risk services, applying your expertise to stabilise operations and embed lasting improvement.
• Developing and implementing project plans that deliver measurable change, from concept through to evaluation.
• Advising senior leaders on risk mitigation, quality improvement and service performance.
• Overseeing resource management, planning and governance to ensure delivery within approved budgets and business plans.
• Championing engagement and partnership with stakeholders — including mana whenua, maata waka, consumers and staff — to ensure services are equitable, effective and future-focused.

This is a dynamic and influential role for someone who enjoys leading through complexity, shaping systems of care, and delivering tangible results that make a difference every day.

View position description

About you

You’re an accomplished and motivated leader who combines strategic insight with practical, hands-on management expertise. With a background in health or business management, you bring strong operational capability, sound judgement and a passion for improving patient care and service delivery. Your ability to analyse complex systems, lead diverse teams, and deliver measurable results makes you a trusted partner in driving meaningful change.

You will bring to the role:

• A tertiary qualification in a relevant field (health or business management), with post-graduate study viewed favourably.
• Proven experience leading teams, managing budgets, staff and capital/service improvement projects within a complex or health-related environment.
• Strong knowledge of the health and disability sector and the frameworks that guide safe, effective and equitable care.
• Outstanding communication and relationship skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across clinical, operational and executive teams.
• A strategic and analytical mindset, able to balance long-term planning with day-to-day operational management.
• Personal integrity, adaptability and accountability, demonstrating discretion, empathy and a genuine commitment to continuous improvement.

You’re someone who leads with purpose — fostering innovation, inspiring others, and ensuring that every initiative contributes to safer, higher-quality care for patients and whānau.

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 Friday 7 November 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact james.boyd@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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