Group Manager System Planning, Design and Improvement - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, Te Manawa Taki

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Based in either New Plymouth, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga or Gisborne | Permanent Full-time
• Lead the design and delivery of integrated primary, community, and mental health services across Te Manawa Taki, driving long-term system transformation.
• Inspire and manage a multidisciplinary team of planners, analysts, and system designers, fostering innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence.

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

The PFO team is responsible for the commissioning of all funded primary, community, and mental health services across the Te Manawa Taki region. You must be based in one of these locations within Health New Zealand's Te Manawa Taki region.

This critical position will drive the strategic direction, design, and continuous quality improvement for health services across the Te Manawa Taki region (Taranaki, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti).

As Group Manager, you will be a key architect of the region's long-term health system vision. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of planners, analysts, and system designers to create and implement comprehensive regional health plans that integrate care across hospital and community settings.

This role combines strategic planning with crucial quality assurance functions for the funded primary and community sector. You will ensure that our system planning aligns with national priorities and that our funded providers meet the highest standards of quality and patient safety.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Strategic System Planning: Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive, system-wide regional health plans, including the Regional Clinical Services Plan. You will use data analytics, health intelligence, and modelling to inform strategy and drive the design of new, integrated models of care.
• Performance and Improvement Leadership: Drive a culture of continuous improvement across the funded sector. You will oversee quality assurance, manage the external audit and complaints program, and develop strategic plans to enhance service quality, efficiency, and patient experience.
• Transformative Change: Lead major programmes and change initiatives that promote integrated care, system resilience, and better access and outcomes for priority populations.
• Partnership and Equity: Forge and maintain strong partnerships with internal colleagues, iwi, providers, clinicians, and consumers. You will ensure all planning remains focused on equitable outcomes.
• Operational and Team Management: Lead, manage, and inspire a highly skilled planning, analysis, and system design team, fostering a high-performance, matrix-managed culture.

About you

You are a senior executive leader who brings a blend of strategic foresight, operational rigour, and exceptional relationship management skills, with a unique opportunity to shape the direction and performance of health delivery across the Te Manawa Taki region. As a pivotal system leader, you can operate at the intersection of strategy and delivery, navigating complexity, building trusted partnerships, and driving sustainable, equitable health outcomes that make a lasting difference for communities.

Essential Experience and Attributes:

• Executive Planning Experience: Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in health system planning, strategic development, or service redesign, with a significant portion in senior leadership overseeing teams.
• Integrated System Expertise: Extensive experience leading the development and implementation of large-scale regional or national health plans and integrated models of care.
• Quality and Performance Acumen: Demonstrable expertise in performance management, quality assurance, and continuous improvement methodologies within a complex healthcare environment.
• Strategic and Analytical Strength: Superior ability to conceptualise, articulate, and implement a clear strategic vision, coupled with strong analytical skills to navigate highly ambiguous and complex system-level challenges.
• Political Acumen and Influence: Highly developed political acumen, negotiation, and influencing skills to navigate complex organisational and inter-agency dynamics, including presenting to Ministers.
• Commitment to Equity: A natural leader in building and leveraging strong, equitable partnerships across cultural and organisational boundaries, particularly with Māori and iwi, with a strong commitment to reducing health inequalities.
• Proven ability to operate within a "teams of teams" structure, demonstrating an understanding of how to achieve goals across functional and organisational boundaries and experience in fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration across diverse, interconnected work streams and teams.
• A relevant tertiary qualification.

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 Monday, 09 February 2026. For further information, please contact Helene Carbonatto at Helene.carbonatto@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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.