Design Manager at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

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

As Design Manager within the Infrastructure and Investment Group (IIG) Engineering and Design team, you will lead the design delivery of major health infrastructure projects from developed design through to construction and handover.

This role is ideally suited to an experienced engineering professional who has developed strong design leadership capability and enjoys working across complex infrastructure programmes. Drawing on your technical expertise, you will lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver practical, compliant and future-focused design solutions that balance operational requirements, whole-of-life asset performance, cost and constructability.

Working closely with project teams, consultants and stakeholders, you will drive design coordination, technical assurance and design governance activities, ensuring high-quality outcomes are delivered across Health New Zealand's national infrastructure portfolio.

You will also play a key role in advancing design standardisation, innovation and best practice across major capital projects.

About the Team/Service/Location

The IIG team are focused on delivering high impact infrastructure investments that support the transformation of New Zealand's health system.

Giving support, oversight and assurance across projects and programmes, the team understand that safe, fit for purpose health facilities, sites and equipment are essential for a well-functioning health system that improves the health of all New Zealanders.

About you

You are an experienced design leader with a strong engineering background and a proven ability to lead the design of complex infrastructure projects. You understand how major projects are developed, coordinated and delivered, and can confidently bring together architects, engineers, planners, contractors and stakeholders to achieve high-quality outcomes.

While your technical foundation may be in engineering, you have developed broad design leadership capability and are comfortable managing the full design process from developed design through construction and handover. You understand the balance between technical performance, operational requirements, user needs, cost, programme and constructability, and can guide multidisciplinary teams to make informed decisions.

You are commercially astute, comfortable working within Design & Construct and other delivery models, and bring the credibility to challenge, influence and collaborate with consultants and contractors alike.

Most importantly, you are motivated by delivering infrastructure that is safe, sustainable and fit for purpose for the communities it serves.

You will bring:

• Degree qualification in engineering.
• Significant experience leading the design of large-scale infrastructure projects, ideally within complex operational environments.
• Strong engineering or technical design background, with the ability to understand, interpret and challenge multidisciplinary design solutions.
• Proven experience coordinating architects, engineers, planners and specialist consultants to achieve integrated project outcomes.
• Strong understanding of design governance, technical assurance, compliance and risk management.
• Proven experience developing and managing Principals' Requirements and technical performance requirements.
• Ability to balance technical excellence, whole-of-life asset performance, operational requirements, cost and programme considerations.
• Experience leading design reviews, value engineering and design optimisation initiatives.
• Familiarity with BIM and digital engineering/design tools.

Highly desirable:

• Chartered Engineer (CPEng), Chartered Professional Engineer, or working towards chartership.
• Experience delivering healthcare, laboratory, public sector or other complex infrastructure projects.
• Experience in building services, civil, structural, mechanical or electrical engineering environments.
• Understanding of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and standardised infrastructure delivery approaches.

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.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 21st August 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Shannon Elder at shannon.elder@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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

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