Oncology Manager

New Zealand Government Joba; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an experienced Oncology Manager to lead operational planning and coordination of Hawke's Bay Oncology Services during a major cancer care transformation. You will guide workforce readiness, service integration, and change management as the new Cancer Centre and radiation therapy services come online.

You will work with clinical leaders to ensure safe, efficient, and equitable care, aligning with national targets and delivering high-quality outcomes

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in operational or service management within a healthcare or complex service environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, support, and influence multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing service performance, operational planning, and resource coordination.
• Understanding of service delivery, patient flow, faster cancer treatment targets.
• Experience using data and performance indicators to monitor service delivery and drive improvements.
• Proven ability to lead or contribute to quality improvement and service development initiatives.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to work effectively with clinical leaders and stakeholders.
• A commitment to delivering equitable health outcomes and supporting the values of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Responsibilities

• Lead operational planning and service coordination across oncology services.
• Drive change management related to the new Cancer Centre and radiation therapy services.
• Ensure efficient patient flow and timely delivery of care while meeting national faster cancer treatment targets.
• Champion service improvement initiatives and contribute to strategic planning.
• Provide senior management support to the General Manager and strengthen collaboration across teams.

Job description

Oncology Manager - Hawkes Bay Fallen Soldiers HospitalPermanent, Full Time, 80 hours per fortnight (1 FTE)

Hawkes Bay offers the best of both worlds - rewarding professional opportunities and an unbeatable lifestyle in one of New Zealands most beautiful regions.

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

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Operational Health Manager to provide leadership across our Oncology Services. This role is responsible for ensuring the effective day to day management and coordination of oncology services, supporting the delivery of safe, high quality, and equitable care for our community.

This is an exceptionally exciting time for Hawke's Bay Oncology Services. The Minister of Health has recently approved the development of a new, purpose built Cancer Centre at Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, representing a significant investment in cancer care for our region. The new state of the art facility will bring all oncology services together in a single location and, for the first time, establish radiation therapy treatment services in Hawke's Bay.

This transformational development means that the majority of Hawke's Bay patients requiring radiation therapy will no longer need to travel to Palmerston North to receive treatment. Instead, they will be able to access care closer to home, closer to their whānau, and within their local community. Construction of the new Cancer Centre has commenced and is now underway, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in cancer care in Hawkes Bay.

As Oncology Manager, you will play a pivotal leadership role in guiding services through this significant period of change and growth. You will be instrumental in leading operational planning, workforce readiness, service integration, and change management activities associated with the implementation of the new Cancer Centre and the introduction of radiation therapy services. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of cancer care delivery in Hawke's Bay and help shape a service that will benefit generations to come.

This pivotal role will provide senior management support to the General Manager and will directly contribute to the quality, performance, and success of oncology service delivery across the Hawke's Bay district. The position provides operational leadership across Medical Oncology, Clinical Haematology, Radiation Oncology, and Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Services.

Working in close partnership with clinical leaders, including Heads of Department, Clinical Nurse Managers, and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will lead operational planning and service coordination across oncology services. The role plays a key part in ensuring efficient patient flow and timely delivery of care while driving performance against the National Faster Cancer Treatment Health Target.

The role will champion service improvement initiatives, contribute to strategic planning, and ensure services remain responsive to growing demand, emerging technologies, and evolving healthcare priorities. The role is integral to strengthening collaboration across teams, supporting sustainable service delivery, and ensuring patient and whānau-centred care remains at the heart of everything we do.

This is a rare opportunity to join Hawke's Bay Oncology Services at a time of unprecedented growth and transformation, and to lead the operational implementation of a landmark cancer care development that will have a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of our community.

About the Team/Service/ Location

Our Oncology service is part of the Hospital Group based at Hawkes Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital, delivering specialist cancer care to the region. Youll join a collaborative leadership environment, working alongside clinical and operational colleagues committed to improving outcomes for our communities.

You will join a supportive and experienced leadership team that is committed to delivering high - quality patient care, improving access to oncology services, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

About you

You are a proactive and experienced operational leader who is comfortable working in a complex and fast - paced healthcare environment. You bring strong leadership capability and the ability to work collaboratively with clinical and operational teams to support high - quality service delivery.

You are confident navigating competing priorities, using data to inform decision - making, and driving improvements that enhance patient experience and service performance. You have a strong understanding of healthcare operations and are committed to supporting teams to deliver safe, efficient, and equitable care.

You will be a relationship - focused leader who values collaboration, communication, and transparency. You will work closely with clinicians, nursing leaders, and operational colleagues to ensure services run effectively and that teams feel supported and empowered.

You will ideally have:

• Demonstrated experience in operational or service management within a healthcare or complex service environment
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, support, and influence multidisciplinary teams
• Experience managing service performance, operational planning, and resource coordination
• Understanding of service delivery, patient flow, faster cancer treatment targets
• Experience using data and performance indicators to monitor service delivery and drive improvements
• Proven ability to lead or contribute to quality improvement and service development initiatives
• Strong organisational and problem - solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to work effectively with clinical leaders and stakeholders
• A commitment to delivering equitable health outcomes and supporting the values of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

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.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 27 November 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Paula Jones - [e-mail]

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.