Quality and Patient Safety Advisor

New Zealand Government; Taranaki; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki, invites applications for a Quality, Patient, Safety Advisor. This full-time position directly supports clinical services to improve patient care and safety across teams.

You will work with healthcare staff to develop incident and complaints management, lead quality improvement projects and clinical audits, and promote a culture where safety is a priority. Applications close 1 October 2026.

Qualifications

• Clinical qualification and NZ hospital/healthcare experience.
• Proven knowledge of quality and safety methodologies.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to influence others and work in partnership.

Responsibilities

• Advise and support clinical services on quality and patient safety.
• Lead or contribute to core quality improvement projects and audits.
• Collaborate with staff to drive system changes for safer care.

Skills

Quality & safety

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder influence

Collaborative working

Education

Clinical qualification

Job description

Quality, Patient Safety Advisor 1.0 FTEThis is an exciting opportunity to share your healthcare knowledge, skills and experience in quality and patient safety with a team who are passionate about making a difference for patients, whanau and staff.This is your opportunity to be directly involved in ensuring we are providing quality patient care and effect changeHealth 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

The Quality, Patient, Safety Unit is seeking to recruit a suitable applicant to the role of Quality, Patient, Safety Advisor. This role has specific responsibility for working with clinical services teams within Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora Taranaki hospitals to advise, support and enable effective quality and patient safety. The successful applicant will also be a key part of, or lead core projects and clinical audit.

About the Team/Service/ Location

Our Quality, patient, safety team consists of; Quality, Patient Safety Advisors, a Coordinator and a Administrator Medication Safety Advisor, Risk Management Advisor and Infection, Protection Control Clinical Nurse Specialists.

About you

We are seeking applications from individuals who place a high priority on quality and patient safety and who want to make systems better for patients and staff. You will have the opportunity to:

• Advocate for patients and their whanau/ families to access essential health services;
• Work directly with clinical / non-clinical staff to develop skills in incident and complaints management;
• Contribute to a culture where patient quality and safety are key priorities;
• Work within the quality improvement model to effect change;
• Help facilitate change and improvements within clinical services.

The skills and experience required are detailed in the position descriptions and include:

• Sound knowledge and experience working within the NZ Hospital or Healthcare setting and hold a clinical qualification.
• Proven knowledge and application of quality and safety methodologies.
• Highly developed analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work with others in a partnership model.
• Track record of being able to influence others.

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 1 October 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Chris Sorensen Quality, Patient Safety Manager - [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.