Nurse Director - Cancer and Chronic Conditions

• Waikato Hospital, Hamilton
• Permanent, full-time 80 hours/fortnight
• Shape service planning and delivery, improve patient experiences and support the future direction of Cancer and Chronic Conditions Services.

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 Nurse Director, you will work collaboratively with clinical, operational and executive partners to shape service delivery, improve patient experiences and support the future direction of Cancer and Chronic Conditions Services. You will provide professional nursing leadership, oversee nursing operations, mentor emerging leaders and promote a culture of clinical excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

You will work in partnership with both operational and medical leads to support delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based nursing and multidisciplinary care while driving service planning, transformation and improvement initiatives. You will champion patient experience, equity and access; lead workforce planning, recruitment, succession planning and staff development; and ensure effective governance, quality improvement, patient safety and risk management.

The role will also include responsibility for operational performance, financial resources and service targets, as well as building strong partnerships with clinical leaders, primary care providers and community stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

• Workforce Leadership: Lead district-wide nursing workforce governance, driving safe patient care, workforce sustainability and future workforce planning.
• Practice Excellence: Provide strategic leadership for innovative, evidence-informed models of care that respond to population health needs and service priorities.
• Quality & Safety: Champion nursing quality governance to improve clinical outcomes, patient safety and care experience.
• Equity & Te Tiriti: Advance Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments, cultural safety and equitable health outcomes through nursing leadership and capability development.
• Strategic & Operational Leadership: Provide professional and operational guidance that strengthens nursing performance, workforce capability and service delivery across the Waikato District and within the Te Manawa Taki region.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team/Service

Cancer and Chronic Conditions Services provides specialist care across a wide range of cancer and long-term condition services, supporting patients across Waikato and the wider region. The service is committed to delivering high-quality, equitable, patient-centred care through strong clinical leadership, innovation, and continuous improvement. As Nurse Director, you will be part of a collaborative leadership team focused on shaping the future of care while supporting and developing a highly skilled nursing workforce.

About Hamilton

Waikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton and is a leading tertiary teaching hospital located in Hamilton, New Zealand, serving as the regional hub for the Midland area, which includes the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, and Taranaki districts. With around 722 inpatient beds, 22 operating theatres, and a dedicated outpatient clinic and procedure centre, Waikato Hospital provides comprehensive hospital services, including radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. As a major teaching hospital with affiliations to the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, and Wintec, it offers a dynamic learning environment and access to research opportunities. The hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities located on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus, with both road and air ambulance support.

Hamilton, where Waikato Hospital is situated, is a vibrant city nestled alongside the scenic Waikato River, offering a perfect mix of nature and culture. Explore the stunning Hamilton Gardens, home to themed gardens from Italy to Asia, or visit the Waikato Museum to delve into the region's rich history. The city also boasts the Hamilton Zoo, where you can walk through an aviary filled with native birds. Hamilton is a lively hub, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, along with events like rugby, cricket, and the famous National Agricultural Fieldays and Balloons over Waikato festival. With its vibrant atmosphere and proximity to outdoor adventures, Hamilton is an ideal place to live and work.

For more information on living and working in Waikato click here

About you

You are an influential nursing leader who is passionate about improving care for patients, whānau, and communities. You combine strategic thinking with operational excellence, inspire high-performing teams, and champion quality, equity, and innovation across complex healthcare environments.

You will bring:

• Registration as a Registered Nurse with a current Annual Practising Certificate and a relevant post graduate qualification
• Significant senior leadership experience in cancer services, chronic condition management or another complex healthcare environment
• Demonstrated success leading service improvement, quality, safety, and workforce development initiatives.
• Strong strategic, operational, and financial management capability.
• Experience building effective partnerships across clinical, operational, and executive leadership teams.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, health equity, and improving outcomes for patients, whānau, and communities.
• The ability to lead change, influence across diverse stakeholder groups, and foster a culture of clinical excellence and continuous improvement.

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.

How to Apply

To apply, please click Apply now or apply via our Waikato Careers website.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kendra Corey at Kendra.Corey@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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