Group Manager, System Planning, Design

• Permanent, full-time position
• Strategic Senior Leadership opportunity
• Shape the future of care in Te Manawa Taki

Health New Zealand's Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) team is seeking an exceptional senior leader to take on the role of Group Manager, Regional System Planning, Design & Improvement. This critical position will drive the strategic direction, design, and continuous quality improvement for health services across the Te Manawa Taki region (Taranaki, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti).

If you are a visionary leader with a deep commitment to equitable health outcomes and have a proven track record of delivering complex, system-level change, we invite you to apply.

About the Role

As Group Manager, you will be a key architect of the region's long-term health system vision. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of planners, analysts, and system designers to create and implement comprehensive regional health plans that integrate care across hospital and community settings.

This role combines strategic planning with crucial quality assurance functions for the funded primary and community sector. You will ensure that our system planning aligns with national priorities and that our funded providers meet the highest standards of quality and patient safety.

Critical Functions You Will Lead:

• Strategic System Planning: Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive, system-wide regional health plans, including the Regional Clinical Services Plan. You will use data analytics, health intelligence, and modelling to inform strategy and drive the design of new, integrated models of care.

• Performance and Improvement Leadership: Drive a culture of continuous improvement across the funded sector. You will oversee quality assurance, manage the external audit and complaints program, and develop strategic plans to enhance service quality, efficiency, and patient experience.

• Transformative Change: Lead major programmes and change initiatives that promote integrated care, system resilience, and better access and outcomes for priority populations.

• Partnership and Equity: Forge and maintain strong partnerships with internal colleagues, iwi, providers, clinicians, and consumers. You will ensure all planning remains focused on equitable outcomes.

• Operational and Team Management: Lead, manage, and inspire a highly skilled planning, analysis, and system design team, fostering a high-performance, matrix-managed culture.

What You'll Bring to the Team

This is a senior executive role requiring a blend of strategic foresight, operational rigour, and exceptional relationship management skills.

Essential Experience and Attributes:

• Executive Planning Experience: Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in health system planning, strategic development, or service redesign, with a significant portion in senior leadership overseeing teams.

• Integrated System Expertise: Extensive experience leading the development and implementation of large-scale regional or national health plans and integrated models of care.

• Quality and Performance Acumen: Demonstrable expertise in performance management, quality assurance, and continuous improvement methodologies within a complex healthcare environment.

• Strategic and Analytical Strength: Superior ability to conceptualise, articulate, and implement a clear strategic vision, coupled with strong analytical skills to navigate highly ambiguous and complex system-level challenges.

• Political Acumen and Influence: Highly developed political acumen, negotiation, and influencing skills to navigate complex organisational and inter-agency dynamics, including presenting to Ministers.

• Commitment to Equity: A natural leader in building and leveraging strong, equitable partnerships across cultural and organisational boundaries, particularly with Māori and iwi, with a strong commitment to reducing health inequalities.

• Proven ability to operate within a "teams of teams" structure, demonstrating an understanding of how to achieve goals across functional and organisational boundaries and experience in fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration across diverse, interconnected work streams and teams.

This is a pivotal role in shaping the future of health delivery in the Te Manawa Taki region.

If you are ready to apply your extensive leadership experience to drive patient-centred, sustainable, and equitable health solutions, please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your experience in strategic health system planning and quality improvement.

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. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Apply now with your CV and cover letter. If you would like more information on the position, please contact

Applications close: Midnight 24 November 2025

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