Director Performance & Improvement - Northern Region

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is transforming the way healthcare is delivered by empowering decision-making within its four regions.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of public healthcare in the Northern region.

Northern employs over 32,000 highly skilled clinical and non-clinical professionals.

As the largest region in New Zealand comprising four districts : Te Tai Tokerau | Northland, Waitemata, Te Toka Tumai | Auckland, and Counties Manukau it provides and funds health services for a population of approximately two million people or 40% of the NZ population.

What makes the region, and the work you will be involved in, interesting is its diversity.

It includes NZ's largest city as well as a significant rural population and is the most ethnically diverse region.

Some areas report among the highest life expectancy in the country, while others face persistent socioeconomic and health challenges.

These include high rate of potentially preventable conditions, unmet health needs, and stark differences in service access.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Executive Regional Director, the Director of Performance and Improvement plays a pivotal role in ensuring the Executive Regional Director meets set performance expectations and that the Senior Leadership team operational cadences are effective and collaborative to ensure that the Government expectations are met.

The position focuses on fostering a culture of action, leadership, accountability, collaboration, and future-focused decision-making to achieve high standards of healthcare delivery within budget constraints.

About you

You are future-focused, with the ability to anticipate trends and challenges while driving proactive and innovative solutions.

Politically savvy, you navigate complex environments with ease, managing stakeholder relationships with discretion, insight, and professionalism.

Your strong attention to detail ensures accuracy and thoroughness in all aspects of your work, allowing you to deliver high-quality outcomes consistently.

Collaborative by nature, you value building strong partnerships across teams and encouraging a shared sense of purpose.

You remain solution-focused, working with and through others to identify and implement practical answers to complex challenges.

Your approach is both strategic and pragmatic, enabling you to balance long-term vision with effective day-to-day delivery.

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 Maori, 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 Sunday, 23 November.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Matt Kelly at

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