Portfolio Manager, Older Persons - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, Manawatu / Whanganui

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• One position available | Permanent Full Time | Based in Hastings, Palmerston North, Whanganui or Manawatu.
• Shape and deliver community services that support healthy ageing and equitable outcomes.
• Lead planning, funding and commissioning across a diverse portfolio of older persons' services.
• Partner with clinicians, providers and communities to design integrated models of care.
• Play a key role in improving equity and outcomes for older people, including Māori and 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 Portfolio Manager – Older Persons, you will be responsible for the planning, funding and management of community services across a portfolio focused on older people. Working within the Planning, Funding and Outcomes (PFO) team, you will partner closely with Senior Portfolio Managers, System Design Managers and Project Managers to develop and implement programme and service development strategies aligned to organisational and government priorities.

You will play a key role across the commissioning lifecycle — contributing to service design, procurement, contract management and performance monitoring. This includes working with providers and sector partners to ensure services are well integrated, clinically appropriate, financially sustainable and deliver strong outcomes for older people and their whānau.

A strong focus of the role is building and maintaining effective relationships with consumers, clinicians, providers, Māori and Pacific partners, and other government agencies. You will ensure equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and community voice are embedded in all planning and funding decisions, and that services are accessible, culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs.

This is a varied and influential role where your work will directly contribute to improving access, quality and outcomes for older people across the Central Region.

About you

You are an experienced planning and funding professional with strong analytical capability, excellent relationship management skills and a genuine commitment to improving health outcomes and equity.

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• A relevant graduate and postgraduate qualification
• 3–5 years' experience across planning and funding, commissioning or service development in complex environments
• Demonstrated experience implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action
• Proven experience across the commissioning cycle, including service design, procurement and provider management
• Strong analytical, data interpretation and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience building and influencing relationships with clinicians, providers, communities and senior stakeholders
• Understanding of the machinery of government processes and working in politically complex environments
• High levels of political acumen, negotiation and influencing capability
• You will also bring self-awareness, resilience and a strong personal drive to deliver high-quality outcomes that make a real difference for older people and their whānau.

Working at 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 11:59PM Sunday 15 March 2026. For further information, please contact Nicole Rickard on Nicole.Rickard@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

The full position description is available on the Health New Zealand Careers site.

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

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