Programme Director, Delivery Planning

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Programme Director to lead the establishment of major capital projects within Health New Zealand's Infrastructure and Investment Group (IIG). This is a significant senior leadership role with accountability for highly complex health infrastructure projects in their initial establishment, involving clinical, operational, digital, workforce and construction interdependencies.

Acting as a system integrator across major projects, you will bring together regional, national, clinical, digital and operational functions to establish projects so that they operate as part of a cohesive programme rather than in isolation. The role will be critical in ensuring the success stand up and resourcing of projects and programmes to ensure successful progression into delivery. You will manage critical interdependencies, resolve cross-programme challenges and maintain a strong focus on delivery outcomes, operational readiness and continuity of patient care.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams of Health New Zealand staff, consultants and contractors, establishing strong programme management, project controls and governance disciplines. With significant commercial and financial accountability, you will provide leadership across procurement, contracting, risk, assurance and delivery, ensuring investment objectives are translated into well-managed programmes that deliver value for New Zealand.

About the Team/Service/Location

The IIG team are focused on delivering high impact infrastructure investments that support the transformation of New Zealand's health system.

Giving support, oversight and assurance across asset management, asset maintenace projects and programmes, the team understand that compliant, safe, fit for purpose health facilities, sites and equipment are essential for a well-functioning health system that improves the health of all New Zealanders.

This role sits within Strategy and Investment and works across regional and national teams, clinical services, internal specialist functions, government agencies and the wider infrastructure sector.

About you

You are an experienced programme and infrastructure leader with extensive experience delivering large, complex projects in operational environments. Your background includes bringing multiple projects and workstreams together into a coordinated programme, while maintaining strong oversight of scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality and intended benefits.

Commercially astute and comfortable operating at the highest levels, you can navigate complex governance and stakeholder environments while keeping delivery firmly on track. You understand how to balance strategic objectives with practical delivery challenges and can turn complex information into clear direction and advice.

You are confident working with executives, governance bodies, government agencies, consultants and contractors and can bring diverse groups together around shared outcomes.

You will bring

• Extensive leadership experience delivering major infrastructure projects within large, complex and operationally constrained environments, ideally within health or similarly high-risk settings.
• Demonstrated experience in the establishment and leadership of major infrastructure projects to ensure a cohesive programme and manage significant interdependencies, risks and benefits.
• Strong commercial and contractual expertise, including delivery models, procurement, contractor performance and value-for-money considerations.
• Proven experience managing the commercial and financial performance of major projects.
• Deep knowledge of programme controls, risk management, assurance and governance required for predictable delivery.
• Demonstrated experience leading significant health infrastructure projects through to completion.
• Experience working with executive leadership, Boards, Ministers and central government agencies.
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective governance arrangements, business cases, approvals pathways and assurance processes.
• Strong knowledge of recognised project and programme management frameworks, methodologies and tools.
• Excellent strategic communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for governance, operational and external audiences.
• Strong stakeholder and relationship leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively across regional, national and external partners.
• An understanding of the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and experience applying its principles meaningfully within programme leadership.
• A leadership approach that supports inclusive, collaborative and high-performing teams.

Working for 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.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 10 December 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Shannon Elder at shannon.elder@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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