General Manager - Hospital and Specialist Services, Te Tai Tokerau

• Permanent, full-time role based at Whangārei Hospital
• Lead a complex and significant portfolio of hospital and specialist services during a period of change
• Join a supportive and experienced district leadership team, with tailored professional development and staff benefits

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

The opportunity | Te whiwhinga mahi

As General Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for a significant portfolio of services across Te Tai Tokerau. Reporting to the Group Director of Operations, you will hold overall responsibility for delivering high quality, clinically effective and cost-efficient services, working alongside clinical and operational colleagues to achieve positive outcomes for patients, whānau and kaimahi.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring you to confidently lead complex services through change. You will have a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for safe, timely and equitable patient care, service performance, workforce leadership, financial and resource management, risk, quality and continuous improvement. You will build effective relationships across directorates, enabling services, regional and national networks, community providers and partner organisations to support integrate service delivery across the district.

The current portfolio includes the Surgery and Perioperative Directorate, encompassing operating theatres, surgical services, gastroenterology and sterile services. You will also hold responsibility for health targets relating to timely treatment and diagnostic targets for colonoscopy. As portfolio responsibilities may change over time to meet operational needs, you will bring adaptability, sound judgment and the ability to lead effectively across a range of services.

Click here to view the position description.

Our organisation | Ko wai mātou

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau is a high performing health service provider operating in a complex environment within a large geographical area. Providing health services to a population of approximately 210,000 people, our vision is “A Healthier Northland”. This can only be achieved by working in partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to improve population health and reduce inequities; improve patient experience; and live within our means.

Based at Whangārei Hospital, this role forms part of the district leadership team for Te Tai Tokerau and works closely with clinical directors, professional leads, enabling services and regional service delivery networks. Travel across the district and region will be required.

For more information on living and working in Northland click here

About you

You will be a credible, values-driven senior leader who can quickly build trust and lead effectively within a large and complex service environment. You will bring:

• A tertiary qualification in health, leadership or management, or equivalent relevant experience
• Significant senior operational management experience within a large and complex organisation, ideally within a health setting
• A successful track record or leading complex services, managing risk and delivering sustainable improvements in service, system and organisational performance
• Strong strategic leadership, change management, workforce planning, financial management and stakeholder relationship skills
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application within health services, together with a demonstrated commitment to improving equity and outcomes for Māori

We encourage applications from people with a range of backgrounds and lived experiences. If you do not meet every element of the person specification but believe you have the leadership capability and experience to excel in this role, we welcome you to contact us to discuss your application.

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 4 October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Michelle Apetera at michelle.apetera@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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