Senior Portfolio Manager, Maternity, Child & Youth - South at Te Whatu Ora, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Role can be based Wellington, Wairarapa, Kapiti or Hutt Valley with a hybrid model – 3 days in the office | Permanent Full-time
• Lead transformational change that shapes the future of healthcare
• Work alongside passionate leaders committed to better outcomes for all New Zealanders

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 Senior Portfolio Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of health commissioning programmes and contracts, driving system and service redesign that delivers better health outcomes for communities across Aotearoa. Working in partnership with Portfolio Managers, System Design Managers and Planning & Improvement teams, you will lead the development, commissioning and optimisation of services that align with Health NZ priorities and create sustainable value across the health system.

This is a highly influential role where you will work closely with Māori, providers, clinicians, consumers, whānau and government agencies to co-design services, lead commissioning and procurement activities, oversee provider performance, and drive continuous improvement. You'll provide strategic advice to senior leaders, lead complex change initiatives, and ensure all commissioning decisions reflect our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and achieving equitable health outcomes.

About the Team and Location

You'll join a collaborative team responsible for commissioning and funding health services that improve outcomes for New Zealanders. Working alongside experienced commissioning, planning and system design professionals, you'll build strong relationships across Health NZ, the wider health sector, and government to deliver innovative, integrated models of care.

Our team looks after a range of funded contracts with Providers throughout the Central Region focussed on Maternity, Child and Youth Health; and broader health system improvement and change initiatives. We partner closely with our Hauora Māori and Pacific team colleagues to ensure comprehensive service coverage across the rohe and prioritise engagement with our broader partners and communities.

About you

You are a strategic and collaborative leader with extensive experience in commissioning, service design or health system transformation. You thrive in complex environments, build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, and have a passion for improving health outcomes through evidence-based decision making and innovative service design.

You will bring:

• A relevant tertiary or professional qualification.
• Significant senior-level experience leading commissioning, service planning, investment strategies or health system redesign.
• Demonstrated success delivering large, complex programmes and leading organisational or system change.
• Strong experience in service design, procurement, contract management and provider performance.
• Knowledge of, and interest in Maternity, Child and/or Youth health system areas.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and relationship management skills, including partnering with Māori, clinicians, providers and government agencies.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking and problem-solving capability, with the ability to influence decisions in complex environments.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a demonstrated commitment to achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing strategic advice, business cases and reports for senior decision-makers.

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 03 August 2026. For further information, please contact Jenita Spencer on Jenita.Spencer@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

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