Service Coordinator - CAOHS

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning environment

Professional culture

Wellness programmes

Job summary

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand in MidCentral is seeking a Service Coordination Lead for the Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service. You will provide operational leadership across multiple locations, coordinating workforce deployment, rostering, and resource allocation to ensure smooth service delivery for tamariki and whānau.

You will work with the Operations Lead, Clinical Director and teams to drive improvements, support patient access, and maintain a high-quality, customer-focused

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ experience in health service administration, service coordination, or operational leadership roles.
• Excellent communication, organisational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating resources, staffing, and operational processes in a complex environment.
• Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality customer-focused services.
• Experience working within the health sector, preferably oral health.
• Team leadership experience.
• Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and oversight of CAOHS administration and service coordination across MidCentral.
• Coordinate workforce deployment, rostering and resource allocation.
• Ensure operational continuity across hubs and mobile clinics.
• Lead operational improvement initiatives and support high-quality service delivery.
• Act as a key contact for day-to-day operational matters.

Skills

Health service administration

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Driver’s licence

Continuous improvement

Education

Tertiary qualification in Office Administration or equivalent

Job description

Service Coordination Lead, Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service, MidCentral District

Permanent, Full Time (1.0 FTE)

Lead operational excellence and make a difference for tamariki and rangatahi

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced service coordination and administration professional to provide leadership across the Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service (CAOHS) in MidCentral. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth delivery of oral health services across multiple locations, supporting teams that are dedicated to improving health outcomes for children and young people.

• An encouraging learning environment where you will continue to grow and be challenged
• A professional and supportive culture and team setting
• Fulfilling and challenging work with great lifestyle options
• Tailored wellness programmes

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

As the Service Coordination Lead, you will provide operational leadership and oversight of the Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service administration and service coordination function across MidCentral. You will coordinate workforce deployment, manage service logistics, oversee rostering and resource allocation, and ensure operational continuity across hubs and mobile clinics.

Working closely with the Operations Lead, Clinical Director, Professional Lead, Dental Therapists, Dental Assistants and administration staff, you will lead operational improvement initiatives, support high-quality service delivery, and act as a key point of contact for day-to-day operational matters. This role offers a rewarding opportunity to influence service performance, enhance patient access, and contribute to positive health outcomes for tamariki and whānau across the region.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• 3-5 years' experience in health service administration, service coordination, or operational leadership roles
• Excellent communication, organisational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to build positive relationships and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience coordinating resources, staffing, and operational processes in a complex environment
• Full New Zealand Driver Licence
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality customer-focused services
• Experience working within the health sector, preferably oral health
• Team leadership experience
• Tertiary qualification in Office Administration or equivalent experience
• Understanding and application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in practice

About the Team/Service

The Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service delivers oral health care across multiple locations throughout the MidCentral region. The service is committed to providing accessible, high-quality dental care for children and adolescents, with a focus on equity, prevention, and community engagement. The Service Coordination Lead is a key member of the leadership team, supporting efficient service delivery and operational excellence across the district.

Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua – MidCentral is a 350-bed hospital in the city of Palmerston North, Manawatū, a city in the Lower North Island of New Zealand. Palmerston North Hospital is a secondary hospital and offers most medical and surgical specialties with the exception of Cardiothoracic, Plastic and Neurosurgery. The hospital serves a local population of 180,000 but is the base for a regional head and neck oncology service which has responsibility for a population of 550,000 and draws patients from Whanganui, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay.

Employing over 2500 people, MidCentral offers a supportive work environment that accepts and values all employees. We actively seek Māori kaimahi into our workforce and provide an environment which delivers our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

About the Location

Manawatū offers the perfect blend of city convenience and rural charm. Whether you're drawn to peaceful village life, vibrant townships, or the buzz of the city, you'll find your ideal lifestyle here. It's a family-friendly region that's easy to live in and even easier to love. The region is also home to excellent schools and two tertiary institutions: Massey University and the International Pacific College.

Outdoor enthusiasts are spoiled for choice-beaches, ski fields, lakes, and mountains are all within reach, along with fantastic hiking and mountain biking tracks. No traffic, an easy commute to work and a strong community feel, help achieve true work-life balance.

Our central location makes it easy to explore the rest of New Zealand, whether you're heading off on a road trip or catching a short flight.

For more information on living and working in the Manawatū:

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.

Job details

Job Reference:

Job Reference: 1952115

Location:

North Island - Manawatu / Whanganui - Palmerston North

Job type:

Job type: Permanent Full time

Expertise:

Non-clinical - Coordinator - Coordinator