Professional Lead - Dietetics

North Island - Taranaki; New Plymouth; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki is seeking a New Zealand Registered Dietitian to take on the Professional Leader of Dietitians role, providing strategic and operational leadership for the Dietitian service across New Plymouth and Hawera.

The role combines clinical leadership with service development, budget and recruitment oversight, and collaboration with Allied Health leaders to shape future care models in line with Pae Ora Act 2022.

Qualifications

• New Zealand Registered Dietitians with leadership capabilities.
• Experience in strategic and operational leadership of dietitian services.
• Strong communication and collaboration with other Allied Health leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Dietitian service across multiple sites within Taranaki.
• Develop models of care and service delivery for Dietitian services.
• Oversee operational management including budgets, recruitment and waitlist management.
• Collaborate with Allied Health leadership to develop career frameworks and role definitions.
• Provide professional guidance and support for Dietitians within the team and organisation.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People management

Communication

Dietitian registration

Education

Bachelor of Dietetics (NZ registered)

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.

North Island - Taranaki – New Plymouth, North Island

• Permanent, part-time (0.8FTE; 64 hours per fortnight)
• A leadership role with a clinical component.

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 welcoming applications from New Zealand Registered Dietitians who will provide professional, strategic, and operational leadership for our Dietitian service. You will be a valued member of the Allied Health, Scientific and Technical leadership team, partnering with Allied Health Professional Leaders and service leads across our organisation.

The Professional Leader of Dietitians will have an opportunity to shape and support a number of exciting initiatives within the Dietitian service, including:

• The development of new models of care and service delivery for Dietitian services in line with clinical best practice across our district and across a range of services from birth onwards.
• Ensure sound operational management of the service from budgets to recruitment to waitlist management.
• The collaboration with Allied Health leadership in the development and scoping of designated roles and implementation of an agreed career framework.
• You will provide professional guidance and support for Dietitians within the team that you lead operationally and also to those employed as Dietitians in other teams within the organisation.
• Your good clinical knowledge and strategic thinking around the future of Clinical Dietitian services, will be required in the development and implementation of clinical services aligned and in accordance with the Pae Ora Act 2022.

For information on the salary band and the position description, pleaseclick here.

About the Service

Health New Zealand| Te Whatu Ora Taranaki employs approximately 350 allied health professionals across its services, and were growing our inpatient physical health rehabilitation team by 60%. You will be joining a friendly team that is diverse in skills and experience, a team that welcomes collaboration and that values the contribution of each team member. Our team of Dietitians are based across the district of Taranaki, providing services across inpatient wards, outpatients, Diabetes and Eating Disorder teams. Working across two sites, New Plymouth Base Hospital and Hawera Hospital in South Taranaki.

For more information on living and working in Taranaki, click here.

About you

As a New Zealand Registered Dietitian, you will have relevant operational/management skills and leadership experience in addition to outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. You will have experience working and collaborating with other professions and services in order to optimise patient outcomes. You will be the type of person who leads by example and creates a team environment where people can thrive through high levels of engagement.

Qualities we are looking for:

• Advocating for Dietitians to the wider audience representing Taranaki Dietitians Locally, Regionally and Nationally
• Future thinking, look at incorporating service improvement projects that improve patient outcomes and effectively utilise resources
• Ability to drive the service forward, consider innovative ways of working to make the most of the resources available
• Personal skills/characteristics: approachable, supportive, team player, visionary, strategic, models integrity and empowers staff development within the team
• Can define specific roles (present and future) and develop role definitions
• Good communication skills. Taking initiatives to supporting change, listening to the different ideas and engages in open communication with the team.
• Innovative approaches to patient-centred care and team wellbeing
• Assist clinically when needed within the Dietitian clinical teams.

About Taranaki

• Do you want to work for an employer known for their focus on employee wellness?
• Would you like to work with a passionate and innovative team?
• Join us on the slopes of Taranaki Maunga!

New Plymouth was named the most liveable city, for a population between 75,000-150,000, by the International Awards for Liveable Communities

Taranaki boasts some of New Zealands most iconic natural landscapes, like Mt Taranaki and many adventure activities.The rugged and wild coastline is home to more than 12 world-class surf breaks. Taranaki is a placewhere you can ski and surf in the same day.For a more relaxing experience, there are many walks (bush, coastal or mountain) as well as art trails, festivals and award-winning museums and galleries and a thriving caf culture.Clickhereto read more information about Taranaki.

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki is a large organisation(2,400 staff) operating in the exciting, changing Health sector to a population of 116,600 people. To learn more about our culture, view the video on ourcareers page.

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 Sunday 27 September 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Jacqui Herrett, Associate Director of Allied Health, at **************@tdhb.org.nz

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