Project Manager

New Zealand Government Joba; Taranaki; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 140,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora in Taranaki is seeking a Project Manager for a permanent 1.0 FTE role (part-time or full-time considered) at Taranaki Base Hospital.

You will lead complex health projects, plan scope, manage timelines, mitigate risks, and engage clinicians and leaders to deliver improved patient outcomes and service efficiency.

The role demands strong communication, stakeholder relations, and knowledge of Health NZ priorities and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex projects in clinical or health service environments.
• Familiarity with PRINCE2, Agile or Lean methodologies.
• Strong planning, budgeting and risk management abilities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement with clinicians and leadership.
• Knowledge of Health NZ priorities and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

Responsibilities

• Plan and scope projects, keep timelines on track, create and mitigate risks.
• Engage with clinicians, service managers and stakeholders to progress projects.
• Lead change in complex health settings with clear communication.
• Align projects with Health NZ strategic goals.

Skills

PRINCE2

Agile

Lean

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Job description

Project Manager Permanent 1.0 FTE (parttime or fulltime will be considered) Taranaki Base Hospital 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

A typical day in the life of a project manager at Te Whatu Ora in Taranaki is fast-paced, collaborative, and deeply rooted in the region's commitment to delivering quality healthcare. The day often involves conversations with clinicians, service managers, and stakeholders reviewing the progress of active projects, to plan new projects and to provide support to colleagues who may be supporting projects and continuous improvements as part of their clinical roles. The project manager is responsible for planning and scoping, keeping timelines on track, creating, mitigating risks, and ensuring alignment with Health New Zealands broader strategic goals. With services spanning rural services to Taranaki Base Hospital, the work demands both a system-wide perspective and attention to localised needs. Throughout the day, the project manager may move between planning sessions for new service designs as well as responding to emerging issues from existing projects. They regularly engage with data and frontline feedback to assess whether improvements are delivering tangible benefits, whether it's shorter wait times, improved coordination, or better outcomes for patients. A critical function of the project manager is stakeholder and relationship management, drawing out their expertise and ideas and keeping them engaged and informed about progress. The role is a balancing act between long-term strategic thinking and hands-on coordination, requiring strong communication, cultural understanding, and agility to work across diverse clinical environments and community contexts unique to Taranaki.

About the Team / Service / Location

The Project Manager operates as part of the Hospital and Specialist Services (HSS) team coordinating, driving and supporting services and teams from across Te Whatu Ora Taranaki to deliver projects focussed on achieving high quality clinical outcomes and service efficiency and effectiveness. For more information on living and working in Taranaki click here

Proven Project Experience

Demonstrated success leading complex projects in clinical or health service environments.

Project Management Expertise

Skilled in recognised methodologies such as PRINCE2, Agile, or Lean, with strong planning, budgeting, and risk management abilities.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

Exceptional interpersonal skills to engage clinical teams, iwi, community partners, and executive leadership effectively.

Health System Knowledge

Solid understanding of New Zealands health sector, including Health NZ priorities, Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, and equity-focused care.

Service Design & Improvement

Background in service redesign, quality improvement, or innovation within health settings is highly desirable.

Leadership & Communication Skills

Strong analytical thinking, clear communication, and the ability to lead change in complex, fast-paced environments.

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 Monday 19th October 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact, Janette Thompson [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.