Clinical Advisor - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Central Region Based | Permanent Part-Time role | 20 Hours Per Week
• Hybrid working arrangements available
• Build strong partnerships with clinicians, providers, and communities.
• Provide expert, evidence-based advice to guide service design and commissioning

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 a Clinical Advisor, you will be the senior clinical voice within your area of expertise, providing strategic advice and leadership to the Central Region Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) team. On a typical day, you might be reviewing complex clinical evidence to inform new service designs, leading workshops with multidisciplinary teams, or providing guidance on commissioning decisions that impact patient safety and quality of care. You will translate clinical insights into actionable recommendations for non-clinical colleagues, ensuring services are safe, effective, and responsive to community needs.

This role combines part-time clinical practice with system-level influence, giving you the opportunity to shape innovative service models, influence policy, and drive meaningful improvements in health outcomes. You will act as a bridge between clinicians, providers, and sector leaders, ensuring the clinical perspective is central to the design and delivery of integrated health services

About the Team/Service/ Location

You will join the Central Region Planning, Funding and Outcomes team, a high-performing, collaborative group focused on commissioning, service integration, and health outcomes. The team works closely with national and regional colleagues, clinical directors, and Health NZ leaders to ensure services are evidence-based, equitable, and culturally informed. Your work will span primary, community, and specialist care, providing a unique opportunity to influence regional system design and make a tangible difference to patient care across New Zealand.

About you

You are a senior clinical leader with deep expertise in your clinical specialty and a strong systems-thinking mindset. You can operate seamlessly across both clinical and strategic environments, translating complex clinical evidence into actionable recommendations that shape regional service design, commissioning, and integration. You thrive on influencing decision-making at all levels, from clinicians on the ground to national and regional leaders, ensuring that patient safety, quality, and equity remain central to all initiatives.

You are confident navigating complex healthcare environments, skilled at leading change, and experienced in clinical governance and quality assurance. Your collaborative approach enables you to build high-trust relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including clinicians, provider organisations, community groups, and policymakers. You are passionate about improving outcomes for Māori, Pacific, and other priority populations, embedding culturally informed practices into the design and delivery of services.

You will bring:

• Clinical expertise: Registered health professional with extensive clinical experience, maintaining some level of part-time clinical practice.
• Strategic and systems thinking: Proven ability to provide evidence-based advice that influences service design, commissioning, and system-level decision-making.
• Clinical governance and quality assurance: Experienced in implementing and overseeing frameworks that ensure patient safety, professional standards, and high-quality care.
• Data and evidence-informed decision-making: Skilled in interpreting complex clinical data, health intelligence, and population health metrics to guide strategic planning.
• Service design and innovation: Ability to contribute to and influence the development of integrated, patient-centered service models and pathways.
• Stakeholder engagement and influence: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills to collaborate effectively across clinical, community, and sector partners.
• Equity and cultural competence: Demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and improving outcomes for Māori, Pacific, and priority populations.
• Change management: Experience leading clinical and system-level change initiatives, including risk management, implementation planning, and adoption strategies.

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, 25 January 2026. For further information, please contact Jenita Spencer on Jenita.Spencer@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.