Clinical Lead, Older Persons

JobSpace; Auckland; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Part-time flexibility

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an experienced Clinical Lead to provide senior clinical leadership and governance across Northern Region commissioning activities, while maintaining part-time clinical practice. You will shape services that are clinically sound, equity-focused and aligned with system priorities.

You will collaborate with clinicians, commissioning teams and partners to redesign care models, translate evidence into practical recommendations and influence investment

Qualifications

• Registration as a health professional, extensive clinical experience and a deep understanding of the New Zealand health system.
• The ability and commitment to maintain part-time clinical practice.
• Strong experience in community-based care for older people, such as Aged Residential Care, general practice or another relevant setting.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical governance, quality assurance and/or service improvement.
• A strong understanding of commissioning, service delivery models and the principles of clinical governance.
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving and systems-thinking capability.
• A proven ability to lead, influence and bring people with you through complex change.
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence clinicians, providers, communities and senior leaders.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to turn complex clinical information and evidence into clear, practical recommendations.
• Experience working constructively in a regulated and complex environment, with a strong track record of building trust across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Experience using data and health intelligence to improve outcomes, address inequities and support better decisions.
• A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and improving health outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership, governance and expert advice across a broad range of commissioning activity within the Northern Region Planning, Funding & Outcomes team.
• Translate complex clinical evidence into practical advice and influence commissioning decisions, service design and investment.
• Lead collaboration with clinicians, commissioning teams, providers and system partners to redesign services and develop new models of care.
• Maintain a strong focus on quality, equity and patient safety, reflecting the needs of Māori, Pacific peoples and other priority populations.
• Work with Clinical Lead counterparts nationally and regionally to build consistency and share leading practice.

Skills

Registration

Part-time practice

Community care

Clinical governance

Quality assurance

Service improvement

Commissioning

Strategic thinking

Systems thinking

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Data-driven decisions

Te Tiriti Waitangi

Equity

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Permanent Part-time 0.5FTE based in the Auckland

Influence at scale – shape services and models of care across the Northern Region

Combine strategic system leadership with part-time clinical practice.

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 Clinical Lead, you'll provide senior clinical leadership, governance and expert advice across a broad range of commissioning activity within the Northern Region Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) team. With your clinical expertise in community-based care for older people—whether through Aged Residential Care, general practice or another community setting—you'll help shape services that are clinically sound, evidence-informed, integrated and focused on better outcomes for people and whānau.

This is a unique opportunity to influence healthcare at a system level, while maintaining part-time clinical practice. You'll be the senior clinical voice in your area of expertise, translating complex clinical evidence into practical advice and influencing commissioning decisions, service design and investment. You'll work alongside clinicians, commissioning teams, providers and system partners to redesign services, develop new models of care and strengthen the connection between hospital, primary and community care.

You'll bring a strong focus on quality, equity and patient safety, ensuring the needs and aspirations of Māori, Pacific peoples and other priority populations are reflected in planning and service delivery. You'll also work closely with Clinical Lead counterparts nationally and regionally to build consistency, share leading practice and contribute to a stronger health system.

About the Team/Service

The Northern Region Planning, Funding & Outcomes team works across the health system to plan, commission and improve services that deliver better outcomes for communities. We bring together clinical, commissioning, analytical and strategic expertise to address complex health challenges and support a more integrated, equitable and sustainable health system.

You'll be part of a collaborative environment where your clinical expertise will be highly valued and where you'll have the opportunity to influence change well beyond the boundaries of your own profession or service.

About you

You'll be an experienced registered health professional with the credibility, clinical expertise and systems perspective to influence healthcare decisions at a senior level. You'll be comfortable moving between clinical practice and strategic conversations, and able to build trust with people from a wide range of professional and organisational backgrounds.

You will bring:

• Registration as a health professional, extensive clinical experience and a deep understanding of the New Zealand health system.
• The ability and commitment to maintain part-time clinical practice.
• Strong experience in community-based care for older people, such as Aged Residential Care, general practice or another relevant setting.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical governance, quality assurance and/or service improvement.
• A strong understanding of commissioning, service delivery models and the principles of clinical governance.
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving and systems-thinking capability.
• A proven ability to lead, influence and bring people with you through complex change.
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence clinicians, providers, communities and senior leaders.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to turn complex clinical information and evidence into clear, practical recommendations.
• Experience working constructively in a regulated and complex environment, with a strong track record of building trust across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Experience using data and health intelligence to improve outcomes, address inequities and support better decisions.
• A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and improving health outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples.

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.

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.