Practice Lead (Network & Communications - Te Waipounamu) at Te Whatu Ora, Canterbury

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Christchurch based
• Permanent, Full-time

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

Are you a people-first leader with a passion for process excellence and digital transformation?
We're looking for an inspiring Practice Lead to guide our talented team within the Digital Operations group. This is a leadership opportunity where your focus will be on empowering people, refining processes, and delivering consistent, high-quality outcomes that support connected healthcare across Aotearoa.

About the Role

As Practice Lead, you'll help guide a team of skilled professionals responsible for delivering secure, reliable, and scalable network and communication services across our national health infrastructure. Your role is less about hands-on technical work and more about operational leadership, team development, and process optimisation.

You'll champion continuous improvement, foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, and ensure delivery practices align with organisational goals and emerging technology trends. You'll also play a key role in stakeholder engagement, workforce planning, and performance management.

In addition, the Practice Lead fosters a vibrant practitioner community, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of best practices across the national delivery portfolio, whilst acting as the regional lead for all things Network & Communications.

About the Team/Service/Location

The Practice Lead (Network & Communications, Te Waipounamu) is one of four regional Practice Leads and sits within the Network and Communications team, part of the Digital Operations function under the wider Digital Services group.  The Te Waipounamu team are dispersed across all of the South Island with team members working both in hospitals, on site and remotely to support the entire region.

Reporting into the Manager - Network & Communications, this team is responsible for delivering fast, reliable, and secure communication channels across corporate and healthcare facilities. The team plays a vital role in maintaining the digital infrastructure that supports efficient, connected healthcare services.

About you

You're more than just technically capable—you're a people-first leader who thrives on building strong, engaged teams in a nationally aligned approach. You understand that great outcomes come from empowered individuals working together with purpose, and you're passionate about creating an environment where your team feels supported, valued, and inspired to grow.

You bring a collaborative mindset, a knack for simplifying complex processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement. You're confident in leading change, navigating ambiguity, and fostering a culture of trust, inclusion, and accountability.

You will have familiarity with the New Zealand health system and relevant privacy regulations, alongside your project management and financial management experience, ensures you can navigate complex delivery environments with confidence.

You will also have the following skills and experience to support your success in the role:

• Demonstrated operational leadership experience and a passion for mentoring, leading, and developing technical teams.
• Strong experience in network and communications technologies, and a great background in enterprise-scale infrastructure (e.g. Cisco routing and switching, Wireless, firewalls, Network cabling and power, Legacy PABX and Cisco Voice)
• Experience in process improvement, service delivery, reporting and performance monitoring
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• A positive, enthusiastic and strategic mindset with a focus on outcomes, equity, and innovation

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 15 July. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Roshni George at roshni.george.tewhatuora.govt.nz.

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