Programme Manager - Nursing Workforce Safety & Sustainability - Clinical Leadership (Fixed Term) at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Contribute to transforming the future of health in this pivotal role as a Programme Manager within our Safe Staffing Healthy Workplace Unit
• Location: National
• Full-time, fixed term opportunity for 2 years

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

We have a full-time fixed term opportunity available as a Programme Manager – Nursing Workforce Safety and Sustainability. This is a key leadership role in the end-to-end delivery of a nationally significant programme of work. 

In this role, you will be responsible for establishing programme and project structures, governance, operationalisation of the work programme.  Responsibilities will also include monitoring and reporting on progress of the work programme.  This is a complex programme commissioned by the Minister of Health.  There will be several interdependent projects/work streams within the programme including work to design, test and implement a staffing methodology for nursing, a safe staffing escalation framework and a work plan for workforce safety and sustainability

About the Team/Service/ Location

This role reports directly to the Director, Safe Staffing Healthy Workplace Unit. This role sits within the Office of the Executive National Director, Clinical.

About you

Our ideal candidate is an experienced leader who brings with them proven project and programme methodologies and utilises it as we work towards achieving improved results.  You will show your personal, professional, and institutional behaviour through commitment, loyalty, and integrity. You will bring significant experience within large public facing multi-faceted or complex environments with multiple consumer and political interests and expectations 

• A relevant tertiary graduate and post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline for example Health Management, Public Health, Business Administration
• Programme management – familiarity with frameworks links PRINCE2 or Agile
• 5 years demonstrated senior programme management experience delivering complex, system-wide initiatives in health or public sector environments
• Demonstrated experience operating at ELT, Board or Ministerial level
• Strong understanding of workforce planning, service delivery and financial decision-making in healthcare
• Proven ability to lead complex environments
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills
• Considerable experience translating complex data into strategic advice

Working for 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 Sunday, 15 March 2026.If you have any questions about the role, please contact Anesha Pillay via Anesha.pillay@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.