Group Manager

• All locations | Permanent Full-time
• Unique opportunity to deliver national training programmes that empower thousands to improve quality, patient safety, equity, and outcomes for our communities
• Build powerful networks that accelerate learning and innovation

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

As the Group Manager – Training, Quality Improvement and Change, you will lead the design, development and delivery of a broad range of training including quality improvement, innovation, leadership and change education across Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Every day, you will shape and grow the capability of our health workforce—empowering teams across the motu to drive safer, more equitable and more effective care for our communities.

You will oversee national improvement programmes, guide best-practice methodologies, support senior leaders and frontline teams, and cultivate strong networks that accelerate learning and innovation. This is a unique opportunity to uplift system-wide performance, embed the aspirations of Pae Ora, and influence meaningful change in a health system undergoing unprecedented transformation.

About you

You are a strategic thinker and system-level leader who brings deep expertise in improvement science, education design and organisational change. You understand how to shift culture, build capability at scale, and embed best-practice methodologies across a complex and diverse health environment. You are highly skilled at navigating ambiguity, influencing across organisational boundaries, and ensuring quality improvement and innovation are grounded in equity.

You will bring:

• Extensive health sector experience (10+ years) with strong knowledge of system priorities, quality and safety principles, patient experience frameworks, and emerging international trends in improvement science.
• Advanced technical expertise in improvement methodologies (e.g., Model for Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, human-centred design, measurement for improvement, human factors), and the ability to guide, coach and mentor others in applying these approaches.
• Proven leadership in designing, delivering and evaluating large-scale improvement, innovation and change education, including developing curricula, building capability frameworks, and aligning training to organisational strategy.
• Strong measurement and analytical capability, with experience interpreting complex data, establishing robust improvement measures, and using insights to drive decision-making and evaluate programme impact.
• Exceptional relationship, stakeholder and partnership skills, including experience working with Māori and Pacific partners, clinical leaders, and consumer groups to embed equity and lived experience into improvement initiatives.
• Strategic leadership and people management strengths, able to build high-performing teams, model collaborative "team of teams" leadership, and influence outcomes across national, regional and local contexts.

You will be someone who thinks critically, adapts quickly, leads with heart and integrity, and nurtures a culture where people feel valued, supported and inspired to deliver their best.

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." All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 11:59PM Wednesday 10 December 2025. For further information, please contact Jenita Spencer on

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected kaimahi will be given preference and priority for this position.

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