General Manager - Surgical Services

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 227,000 - 304,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an experienced Group Manager for Surgical Services across Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley. This senior role leads district-wide operations, drives performance and safety, and partners with clinical leaders to deliver integrated care within a complex health system.

You will shape strategy, oversee budgets, risk, and workforce development while championing equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in service delivery.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in complex health environments.
• Minimum two years senior management experience.
• Strong operational, business planning and risk-management capability.
• Significant stakeholder and relationship-management experience.
• Understanding of equity in health service delivery.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its practical application.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear management accountability for high-quality and safe services.
• Lead sustainable, efficient services that meet performance expectations and legal requirements.
• Collaborate with clinical leaders to maintain operational performance while leading transformational change.
• Build an engaged, high-performing culture and develop leadership capability across teams.
• Manage people, financial and physical resources within delegations.
• Identify and manage operational, quality, safety and organisational risks.
• Build strong relationships across hospital, community, iwi, locality, regional and national partners.
• Lead thinking and action that improves equity of access, delivery and health outcomes.
• Champion Te Tiriti o Waitangi within service delivery.

Skills

Senior leadership

Change management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Strategic planning

People development

Education

Tertiary qualification in health

Job description

Location: Wellington Regional Hospital Contract: Permanent Full-Time, 1.0 FTE Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. We are seeking an experienced and influential senior leader to take on the role of Group Manager, Surgical Services across Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley. This is a significant leadership opportunity for someone who can bring together people, performance and strategy while leading services through change. Reporting to the Group Director Operations, you will work in partnership with clinical leaders, fellow Group Managers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, safe and integrated care. You will provide district-wide leadership for your service group, with accountability for operational stability and performance, while creating the direction and momentum needed to design, transition and embed service improvements. The Salary is $226,976 (80%) - $304,464 (120%) If you are ready to lead through complexity, bring people together and drive meaningful change, we want to hear from you.

About the Role

As Group Manager, you will:

• provide clear management accountability for high-quality and safe services
• lead sustainable, efficient services that achieve performance expectations and meet contractual, policy and legal requirements
• work closely with clinical leaders to maintain operational performance while leading transformational change
• build an engaged, high-performing culture and develop leadership capability across your teams
• manage people, financial and physical resources within agreed delegations
• proactively identify and manage operational, quality, safety and organisational risks
• build strong relationships across hospital, community, iwi, locality, regional and national partners
• lead thinking and action that improves equity of access, delivery and health outcomes
• champion Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support its meaningful application within service delivery.

About you

You will be an experienced senior leader who is comfortable operating in a complex environment where strong relationships, sound judgement and decisive leadership matter.

You will bring:

• experience leading large-scale change in complex environments, preferably within health
• previous senior management experience of at least two years
• strong operational, business planning and risk-management capability
• significant stakeholder and relationship-management experience
• the ability to analyse complex information and translate it into clear, effective decisions
• resilience and demonstrated ability to influence people and system change
• an understanding of health-sector service delivery
• a strong understanding of equity in health service access, delivery and outcomes
• a practical commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and experience applying its principles
• a tertiary qualification in health and/or significant project-management experience
• ideally, experience managing substantial operating budgets within the public sector.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellnesses. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.