PHO Network Development Lead

The Doctors; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Doctors in NZ seeks a PHO Network Development Lead to design, implement and continuously improve primary health care services across the PHO network. Lead projects with health partners, iwi and NGOs to deliver equitable, accessible care that improves outcomes.

You will balance strategic planning with hands-on management, ensuring services are well planned, evaluated and adapted to meet community needs and priorities.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification or demonstrated experience in health management, public health, nursing, health sciences, business management or project management.
• Experience working in primary health care, PHO, NGO, community health or public health environments.
• Proven experience leading change initiatives and managing projects from concept through to implementation and evaluation.
• Strong written communication skills for business cases, proposals, reports and recommendations.
• Experience building and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of new and existing services and models of care.
• Identify gaps in service provision and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions.
• Support the implementation of national and regional health priorities, service-level measures and funding initiatives.
• Develop business cases, service proposals and implementation plans.
• Monitor service delivery and performance against milestones and KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Data-informed

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Change management

Communication

Education

Tertiary qualification

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

PHO Network Development Lead - Community Care & Arataki PHO

Make a difference across primary health care - lead innovative services that improve access, equity and health outcomes for our communities.

We are looking for an experienced and motivatedPHO Network Development Leadto join our team and lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of primary health care services across our PHO network.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who can turn health priorities and identified community needs into practical, sustainable models of care that make a measurable difference for patients, whānau and communities.

About the role

Reporting to theHead of PHO, you will lead a portfolio of service development and improvement initiatives across the network. Working collaboratively with general practices, Health New Zealand, iwi and Māori health providers, community organisations and internal clinical, quality, equity and business teams, you will identify opportunities, develop solutions and successfully bring new services and models of care to life.

You will balance strategic thinking with hands-on programme and project management, ensuring initiatives are well planned, effectively implemented, evaluated and continuously improved.

A key focus of the role will be ensuring that service development contributes toimproved access, reduced health inequities, culturally responsive care and better health outcomes.

What you'll be responsible for -

Service development and innovation

• Lead the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of new and existing services and models of care.
• Identify gaps in service provision and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions.
• Support the implementation of national and regional health priorities, service-level measures, performance frameworks and flexible funding initiatives.
• Develop business cases, service proposals and implementation plans.
• Identify opportunities to improve the way primary care services are delivered across the network.

Equity and population health

• Embed an equity focus across all service development activities.
• Support Māori health advancement and uphold the principles ofTe Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Use population health data to identify priority populations, unmet need and opportunities for improvement.
• Help ensure services are culturally responsive, accessible and appropriate for the communities they serve.

Programme and change management

• Manage multiple service development and improvement projects simultaneously.
• Develop project plans, timelines, risk registers, reporting frameworks and implementation plans.
• Monitor progress against milestones, deliverables, budgets and agreed outcomes.
• Lead change management and implementation activities across the PHO network.
• Develop clear and effective communications to ensure practices and stakeholders are informed, engaged and supported through change.
• Monitor service-level expenditure and funding utilisation and support efficient, sustainable delivery.
• Prepare reports and updates for leadership and governance groups.

Quality improvement and performance

• Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives across the network.
• Analyse service performance, health and population data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop quality indicators, evaluation approaches and measures of success.
• Monitor services against contractual requirements and agreed KPIs.
• Support funder reporting, funding applications and contract negotiations.
• Share lessons learned, innovation and best practice across the PHO network.

About you

You will be a confident health sector professional who enjoys bringing people together, solving complex problems and turning ideas into successful programmes.

You will ideally have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and/or demonstrated experience inhealth management, public health, nursing, health sciences, business management or project management.
• Experience working inprimary health care, PHO, NGO, community health or public health environments.
• Proven experience leading change initiatives and managing projects from concept through to implementation and evaluation.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to develop business cases, proposals, reports and recommendations.
• Experience building and managing effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Confidence interpreting and using health and performance data to inform decision-making and reporting.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.

It would also be advantageous if you have experience with:

• Primary care and population health frameworks.
• Strategic planning and service development.
• Influencing, negotiation and stakeholder engagement.
• Working with Māori health providers and applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in practice.
• Contract, funding or performance management.

This is a Permanent Full Time position working 40 hours per week across 5 days - Based in our head office in Parnell.

What you'll bring

We're looking for someone who is:

• Strategic- You can see the bigger picture while understanding what is required to make change happen on the ground.
• Collaborative- You build trusted relationships and bring people with you.
• Innovative- You challenge the status quo and look for better ways to deliver services and improve outcomes.
• Data-informed- You can translate data and evidence into meaningful insights and practical action.
• Outcome-focused- You are driven by achieving tangible improvements for patients, whānau, practices and communities.
• Adaptable- You are comfortable working in a changing health environment and managing multiple priorities.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of primary health care across our network. You'll work alongside passionate clinical, operational and community partners and have the opportunity to influence services that can make a genuine difference to health outcomes and equity.

If you're ready to use your health sector experience, project leadership and relationship‑building skills to create meaningful and sustainable change,we'd love to hear from you.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work permit.