Clinical Director Acute Care Services, Health NZ-Whanganui at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Whanganui, Manawatu / Whanganui

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Live and work in the stunning Whanganui region, renowned for its welcoming community, natural beauty, and exceptional work-life balance.
• Flexible permanent full-time or part-time option available.
• Dedicated relocation support to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for you and your family.

About the Role

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora - Whanganui is seeking an experienced and visionary Emergency Medicine Consultant or General Medicine Physician to join our team in the pivotal role of Clinical Director Acute Care Services.

This leadership position combines 0.5 FTE as Clinical Director Acute Care, providing strategic and clinical leadership across acute services, with 0.5 FTE in your substantive clinical role as either an Emergency Department Consultant or General Medicine Physician. 

As Clinical Director, you will play a key role in shaping and enhancing acute care services, driving quality improvement initiatives, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care. Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will maintain an active clinical practice within your specialty, ensuring a strong connection between clinical service delivery and strategic direction.

About the Team/Service/ Location

Whanganui Hospital is located on the West coast of New Zealand's North Island with a wide range of services including emergency medicine, general medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, O&G, ENT, ophthalmology, dentistry and psychiatry. We serve a population of approximately 65,000 residents and serves as a central hub for the 16,000 people residing in the surrounding districts across the region.

Your move to Whanganui will allow you to experience a vast range of sights and entertainment in our region. It offers easily accessible mountains for skiing or hiking, lakes for fishing and boating, as well as beaches for surfing and quiet walks. The year-round temperate climate allows you to make the most of this healthy family-focused lifestyle. Whanganui also boasts an exciting arts community and facilities, a mix of local and travelling music talent, educational and sporting opportunities for all ages, historical buildings and culture. Living in Whanganui, you will be two-and-half hours' drive away from our capital city, Wellington or a 1-hour scenic flight to Auckland.

This excellent work / lifestyle balance for you and your family is further supported by a high quality of education at primary and secondary level, offered through both public and private schools.

For more information on living and working in Whanganui click here

About you

You will be a Vocationally registered Emergency Medicine Consultant or General Medicine Physician with demonstrated experience in: 

• Clinical leadership and service development.
• Establishing or transforming complex healthcare services.
• Quality and patient safety initiatives.
• Multidisciplinary team leadership.
• Strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. 

You will bring a collaborative approach, a commitment to equity, and a passion for innovation in critical care delivery.

Why Join Us?

This position offers:

• A unique opportunity to provide strategic and clinical leadership across Acute Care services while maintaining an active clinical practice.
• The ability to shape and influence the future direction of acute healthcare delivery in a growing regional hospital.
• A supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary environment with strong executive and clinical leadership backing.
• Opportunities to lead quality improvement, service development, workforce planning, and innovation initiatives.
• Opportunities for teaching, mentoring, and developing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
• The chance to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the health outcomes of the Whanganui community.
• A flexible role combining 0.5 FTE Clinical Director responsibilities with 0.5 FTE clinical practice as either an Emergency Medicine Consultant or General Medicine Physician.
• The opportunity to enjoy the exceptional lifestyle, affordability, and work-life balance that the Whanganui region offers.

For Further Information

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Dr Nathale de Vries, Chief Medical Officer  Nathalie.devries@wdhb.org.nz

To view a position description please click here

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Honey Pillai, Senior Recruitment & Operations - SMOs via Honey.Pillai@wdhb.org.nz

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

Closing date: 25 November 2026