System Design Manager, Referred Services - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent, full-time role based anywhere in New Zealand
• Lead system redesign that improves access, equity and outcomes for referred services across Aotearoa
• Shape and deliver national system and service redesign across referred services
• Drive equity-focused change with a strong commitment to Māori health gain
• Work flexibly as part of a collaborative, high-trust national team

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 System Design Manager – Referred Services, you will be a senior member of a life course team within the Planning, Funding and Outcomes group, leading system and service redesign across referred services with a strong focus on improving Māori health outcomes and eliminating inequities.

You will hold senior system design and implementation leadership for your portfolio, creating and delivering strategic roadmaps and implementation plans aligned to Te Pae Tata and Budget actions. Working closely with Hauora Māori Services, Pacific Health, national and regional commissioning teams, clinicians, providers and communities, you will co-design new systems of care that are equitable, efficient and sustainable.

A key focus of this role is leading system and service design across pathology and laboratory services, ensuring referral pathways, service provision and funding models are fit for purpose, clinically sound and support timely, high-quality diagnostic services nationwide. You will work closely with laboratory providers, clinicians and sector partners to support integration, quality, access and equity across laboratory services.

A core part of the role is building and maintaining authentic, trusted relationships across the sector — ensuring the voices of priority communities, whānau and lived experience are central to design. You will lead or contribute to service and funding reviews, develop outcome and performance measures, and support the implementation of redesigned service models.

About you

You are a highly experienced system and service design leader with strong systems thinking, influencing and change management capability. You are comfortable working in complexity, partnering across organisations, and leading equity-focused change at scale.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• A relevant graduate and postgraduate qualification
• 5–10 years' experience leading system and service design and implementation in complex environments
• Demonstrated knowledge of pathology and laboratory services and their provision within the health system
• Understanding of referral pathways, diagnostic services and laboratory commissioning or service delivery models
• Demonstrated experience implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action and advancing Māori health equity
• Proven experience developing and delivering strategic roadmaps, service redesigns and implementation plans
• Strong systems thinking and problem-solving skills that deliver collaborative, equity-based solutions
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with Māori, Pacific peoples, clinicians, laboratory providers and senior sector leaders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing advice for senior leaders, Boards and Ministers
• Experience operating in regulated environments and navigating system complexity

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 22 March 2026. For further information, please contact Nicole Rickard on Nicole.Rickard@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.