Programme Director - Planning & Performance

• Located at: Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland
• Permanent, full-time role (Monday to Friday)
• Lead organisation-wide transformation, planning and performance improvement initiatives
• Influence strategic decision-making at senior leadership and governance level
• Drive meaningful improvements in patient outcomes, quality, access and organisational performance
• Lead the Clinical Improvement Network and a significant portfolio of improvement and transformation initiatives

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.

About the Role

Provide strategic leadership across organisational planning, performance improvement, clinical improvement, service transformation, and priority programmes within New Zealand’s largest hospital provider. Reporting to the Director of Planning & Performance, you will lead a significant portfolio of initiatives that support Te Toka Tumai Auckland and Health New Zealand priorities.

Working closely with executive, clinical and operational leaders, you will translate strategic objectives into integrated programmes of work that deliver measurable improvements in patient outcomes, access, quality, safety, experience, operational performance and organisational effectiveness.

You will provide senior leadership for the Clinical Improvement Network (CIN), oversee complex improvement and transformation programmes, and ensure robust governance, performance monitoring and benefits realisation. Success in this role requires an experienced leader who can influence across organisational boundaries, navigate complexity and drive sustainable change at scale.

Please visit the position description here.

About the Team/Service

The Planning & Performance team provides strategic leadership across organisational planning, performance improvement, service transformation, and programme delivery for Te Toka Tumai Auckland. Working closely with clinical, operational, corporate, regional, and national stakeholders, the team drives initiatives that improve patient outcomes, quality, access, and organisational performance.

At Te Toka Tumai Auckland, we’re not just hiring — we’re building the future. Aotearoa’s health system is in an exciting period of transformation, underpinned by the vision of Pae Ora / Healthy Futures. Together, we’re creating a more equitable, accessible, and people-centred health system that works for everyone.

About you

You are a strategic and influential senior leader with a proven track record of delivering complex transformation and improvement programmes in large organisations. You bring exceptional stakeholder engagement, programme leadership, and change management expertise, with a strong focus on achieving measurable outcomes, improving performance, and delivering better healthcare for our communities.

Essential requirements:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in health, management, business, public sector leadership or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience leading large-scale organisational programmes, transformation initiatives and/or improvement portfolios within complex environments.
• Proven experience leading service transformation, organisational improvement or digital transformation programmes.
• Demonstrated success operating within large healthcare, public sector or similarly complex organisations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and developing high-performing people and teams.
• Strong knowledge of programme governance, organisational change, performance improvement methodologies and benefits realisation.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic advice and reporting to senior leaders and governance forums.
• Strong understanding of the New Zealand health sector and its strategic priorities.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and improving equitable outcomes.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management, health management or a related discipline.
• Formal project or programme management qualification.
• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, improvement science or equivalent methodologies.
• Experience leading organisational improvement networks, quality improvement programmes or communities of practice.

About the location

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city and offers an outstanding lifestyle, combining world-class healthcare, diverse communities, vibrant culture, and easy access to beaches, islands, and outdoor activities.

For more information on living and working in Auckland click here.

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. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Belinda Peddie – belinda.peddie@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as they are received and may progress suitable candidates through the recruitment process prior to the closing date. Health New Zealand reserves the right to close this advertisement early should a suitable candidate be identified or a sufficient number of applications be received.