Clinical Advisor, Mental Health

• Permanent, part-time position (0.4 FTE)

• Shape the future of mental Health & addictions across Te Manawa Taki

• Provide strategic advice & guidance working across the system

Are you a seasoned mental health & addictions registered health professional committed to driving quality and innovation while maintaining your connection to practice? We are seeking an influential Mental Health & Addictions Clinical Advisor to join the Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) team, providing expert clinical leadership and governance across our commissioning functions.

This is a unique opportunity to use your deep clinical knowledge in a systems-focused strategic role that directly shapes regional service delivery and improves health equity.

About Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) – Te Manawa Taki

The PFO team is responsible for the commissioning of all funded primary, community, and mental health services across the Te Manawa Taki region, which spans Taranaki, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti.

About the Role: Regional Clinical Director, Primary and Community Care

As a Clinical Advisor, you are the senior clinical voice in your specialty area. You will provide strategic advice and guidance, working across the system to drive service redesign and develop new, innovative models of care in partnership with PFO teams and clinicians.

Crucially, this role requires the ability to maintain part-time clinical practice, ensuring your advice is always grounded in current, real-world experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance: Lead the oversight of clinical governance frameworks within the commissioning cycle, ensuring patient safety, quality assurance, and professional standards are central to every decision and review.

• Strategic Clinical Advice: Act as the primary clinical expert, translating complex clinical evidence and intelligence into clear, actionable recommendations for commissioning teams to improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.

• Service Design & Innovation: Utilise your expertise to influence and lead the design of system-wide service models and patient pathways, challenging existing practices and championing new approaches that focus on the needs of priority populations.

• Stakeholder Influence: Forge and maintain strong, high-trust relationships with providers, Iwi partners, and clinical colleagues to ensure the clinical voice is influential in shaping both community and hospital services (H&SS).

• Service Integration: Lead or contribute to implementing key clinical changes at the intersection of H&SS and primary care at a regional and local level.

What We're Looking For

You are a systems thinker with strong problem-solving and collaboration skills, proven in a regulated health environment.

Essential Requirements:

• You must be a registered mental health & addictions health professional with extensive clinical experience and a deep understanding of New Zealand's health system.

• The ability to maintain part-time clinical practice is essential.

• A comprehensive understanding of commissioning processes, service delivery models, and clinical governance principles, including demonstrated experience in a clinical governance role.

• Strong strategic thinking and proven ability to lead and influence system-level change.

• Exceptional ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, from frontline clinicians to senior leaders.

• Significant experience in using data and intelligence products to improve health outcomes, reduce inequities, and improve the health of communities.

If you are based in the region and are passionate about connecting clinical practice with strategic decision-making to create a more equitable and integrated health system, we encourage you to apply.

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.