District Chief Medical Officer

Nelson Marlborough Health; Nelson; On-site; NZD 230,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Nelson Marlborough Health in New Zealand seeks a District Chief Medical Officer to provide visible and inclusive medical leadership for the district. You will partner with operational and clinical leaders to deliver safe, high‑quality patient care and ensure clinical voice informs senior decision‑making.

The role spans governance, patient safety, workforce leadership, service planning, and risk management, with opportunities to balance some clinical practice, while contributing to equity goals

Qualifications

• Current vocational or general medical registration and an Annual Practising Certificate.
• Significant clinical leadership experience and extensive knowledge of the New Zealand health sector and clinical service delivery.
• Demonstrated expertise in clinical governance, patient safety, quality improvement, risk management and professional standards.
• Strong strategic, financial and operational judgement, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, influence decisions and lead sustainable change.
• Excellent communication and relationship skills, including the ability to negotiate, resolve conflict and build trusted partnerships across the health system and community.
• A practical understanding of Pae Ora, Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and equity, with a commitment to culturally safe services and improved outcomes for Māori and other priority populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong, visible and inclusive professional and clinical leadership for the Nelson Marlborough district.
• Inspire medical colleagues and the wider health workforce, while working with operational and clinical leaders to deliver safe, compassionate and high-quality patient care.
• Lead across clinical governance, patient safety and experience, medical workforce leadership, service planning, quality improvement, risk management and safe delivery of care.
• Help strengthen integrated, whole-of-system services and advance equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples, people with disabilities and other communities.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Governance

Patient safety

Quality improvement

Risk management

Strategic judgement

Financial acumen

Communication

Equity focus

Job description

• Shape safe, high-quality and equitable care across Nelson Marlborough as a senior clinical leader.
• Partner with the Group Director Operations and district leadership team to ensure the clinical voice informs key decisions.
• Provide visible medical leadership across clinical governance, workforce, quality, safety and service continuity.

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

This position is open to applications from Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) currently employed by Health NZ who are ready to broaden their leadership experience and contribute at a strategic and executive level. Based in Nelson, the role has district-wide responsibilities across Nelson and Marlborough.

As District Chief Medical Officer, you will provide strong, visible and inclusive professional and clinical leadership for the Nelson Marlborough district. You will inspire medical colleagues and the wider health workforce, while working in partnership with operational and clinical leaders to deliver safe, compassionate and high-quality patient care.

As part of the district leadership team, you will provide clinical partnership to the Group Director Operations and ensure the clinical voice is heard in senior decision-making. Your portfolio will span clinical governance, patient safety and experience, medical workforce leadership, service planning, quality improvement, risk management and the ongoing safe delivery of care. You will also help strengthen integrated, whole-of-system services and advance equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples, people with disabilities and other communities.

Depending on district requirements and your preference, a portion of the role may be allocated to continuing clinical practice. The remuneration basis is ASMS base salary plus an allowance.

About the Team/Service/ Location

This role sits within Hospital and Specialist Services / Clinical Leadership and is a key member of the Nelson Marlborough district senior leadership team. You will work closely with the Group Director Operations, other clinical chiefs and directors, service leaders, regional colleagues and national clinical networks to support sustainable services and strong clinical governance.

For more information on living and working in Nelson click here

About you

You will be a respected, collaborative medical leader who can work confidently across complex clinical and operational environments. You will bring:

• Current vocational or general medical registration and an Annual Practising Certificate.
• Significant clinical leadership experience and extensive knowledge of the New Zealand health sector and clinical service delivery.
• Demonstrated expertise in clinical governance, patient safety, quality improvement, risk management and professional standards.
• Strong strategic, financial and operational judgement, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, influence decisions and lead sustainable change.
• Excellent communication and relationship skills, including the ability to negotiate, resolve conflict and build trusted partnerships across the health system and community.
• A practical understanding of Pae Ora, Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and equity, with a commitment to culturally safe services and improved outcomes for Māori and other priority populations.

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.