System Design Manager, Older Persons - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Based in either New Plymouth, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga or Gisborne |   Permanent Full-time
• Shape the future of Older Persons care by leading regional strategy, service design, and integration
• Stretch your strategic capability in a senior role that sits at the intersection of policy, commissioning, service design, and system leadership

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

This is an influential role, critical for shaping the future of integrated Older Persons services. You will be the primary design and planning lead for the Older Persons portfolio regionally, responsible for ensuring regional consistency and strategic direction.

Working autonomously and leveraging your expert problem-solving skills, you will lead the co-design and management of regional Older Persons service solutions alongside other teams and external stakeholders. This role requires strategic vision, strong planning and design skills, and commitment to health equity.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Regional Strategy & Oversight: Lead the regional strategic roadmap for service redesign, ensuring consistency in approach, planning, and delivery across sub-regional teams.
• Partnering: Support the Funding & Integration teams with their critical funding and integration design requirements for Older Persons.
• Integrated Model Design: Lead the planning and design of integrated models of care that directly impact and improve health outcomes for consumers.
• Partnership & Co-Design: Lead and cultivate strong, trusting relationships with the sector, consumers, whānau, clinicians, and other Health NZ teams to co-design and implement funding and service solutions.
• Policy & Influence: Represent your portfolio at national and regional forums, actively shaping policy and influencing the strategic direction of commissioning.
• Expert Advice: Provide advanced analytical advice, contribute to briefings and reports (e.g., Ministerial briefings, OIAs)
• Change Management: Support the change management processes associated with major investment and disinvestment decisions, ensuring effective implementation and risk mitigation.

About you

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for transforming healthcare systems?

You are a systems thinker and natural collaborator, motivated by complex, high-impact challenges. You bring the capability and curiosity to redesign regional health systems, working across organisations and disciplines to deliver meaningful, equitable outcomes for communities. You thrive in environments where insight, partnership, and innovation come together to shape better health services and lasting change

What You Will Bring

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in health commissioning, strategic planning, or system/service redesign within a complex healthcare environment.
• Proficient in system design methodologies, service design thinking, and programme/portfolio management.
• Advanced Analytical and Conceptual Thinking: Proven ability to interpret complex data, develop strategic insights, and make high-impact decisions autonomously.
• Political Acumen: Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills, capable of navigating complex organisational and inter-agency dynamics.
• Exceptional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to build and leverage strong, trusting partnerships with both internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to conceptualise, articulate, and implement a clear strategic vision for regional health system transformation.
• Commitment to Equity: A strong drive to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and promote equitable access to care for all New Zealanders.

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 on 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.