Capability and Performance Manager Hospital & Specialist Services - Pacific Health - Manukau at Te Whatu Ora, Auckland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead national workforce initiatives that strengthen Pacific health workforce capability, capacity, and sustainability across Aotearoa.
• Partner with leaders across the health, education, and government sectors to drive workforce development, innovation, and system change.
• Influence strategies and outcomes that advance equity and support better health outcomes for Pacific communities

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 the Capability and Performance Manager, Hospital and Specialist Services, you will provide national leadership to strengthen Pacific health workforce capability, capacity, and performance across Aotearoa. Working at a system level, you will drive strategic initiatives that support workforce sustainability, influence strategy and service development, and help grow the Pacific health workforce pipeline through effective partnerships, data-driven insights, and innovative workforce solutions.

This is a highly influential role that brings together stakeholders across Health NZ, government agencies, education providers, regulatory authorities, Pacific communities, and the wider health sector. You will lead change, shape workforce priorities, and deliver initiatives that improve health outcomes, advance equity, and support Health New Zealand's commitments under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Pae Ora for Pacific communities.

About the Service

This role sits within the Pacific Health Clinical Group in the Office of the Clinical Chief Officers within Health NZ. The team is dedicated to improving health outcomes for Pacific communities through strategic planning, effective funding allocation, workforce development and strong partnerships with providers and stakeholders. As part of this collaborative and impact-driven team, you will contribute to initiatives that support equitable access to healthcare and culturally responsive services.

About you

You will be a strategic and influential leader with extensive experience operating in complex environments, ideally within the health sector. Passionate about improving health outcomes and advancing equity, you will bring strong relationship management, change leadership, and workforce development expertise, along with the ability to collaborate across organisations and inspire collective action.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Significant leadership experience in workforce, health, or organisational development within a large and complex environment.
• Proven ability to lead strategic change initiatives and drive continuous improvement.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trusted partnerships across government, health, education, and community sectors.
• Experience using data, evidence, and insights to inform decision-making, performance improvement, and workforce planning.
• A demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, and achieving better outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities.
• Exceptional communication skills, with confidence engaging and influencing diverse audiences at a senior level.
• The ability to navigate complexity, think strategically, and deliver results through collaboration and innovation.
• An understanding of Pacific communities, cultures, and workforce priorities, or the ability to build this knowledge and apply it effectively

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 Thursday, 03 September 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Maria Bennett at Maria.Bennett1@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz