Principal Clinical Health Planner - PFO

Health New Zealand's Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) team is seeking an exceptional clinical health planner. This critical position will drive the strategic direction, design, and continuous quality improvement for health services across the Te Manawa Taki region.

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

The PFO team is responsible for the commissioning of all funded Older Persons & Mental Health & Addictions services across the Te Manawa Taki region, which spans Taranaki, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti.

About the Role : Clinical Health Planner

Are you a highly experienced strategic health planner ready to tackle complex, cross-system challenges on a regional scale? Do you have the expertise to drive integrated, equitable health services across five districts?

We are seeking a Principal Clinical Health Planner to be the driving force behind long-term clinical service planning for the Te Manawa Taki region (Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, and Taranaki). This pivotal role requires a strong focus on connecting hospital and community services to improve population health and achieve health equity for all. You'll be using your expertise to develop integrated, multi-year clinical service plans that align the needs of our diverse communities—including the critical voice of whānau—with national health delivery goals.

Key Focus Areas

• Regional Clinical Planning : Lead the development and maintenance of integrated, cross-system clinical service plans—from acute hospital care to community services—based on comprehensive needs assessments, patient flow analysis, and demand modelling.
• Equity and Whānau Focus : Embed a strong commitment to health equity in all planning, actively working with the Hauora Māori team and Iwi partners to ensure the aspirations of Māori and Pacific People are reflected in service design and delivery.
• Integrated Care Pathways : Be the subject matter expert on integrated pathways, working with System Design Managers to re-engineer clinical and operational service delivery for seamless transitions of care.
• Collaboration and Influence : Build and maintain effective, trusting relationships with senior clinicians, governance groups, and community stakeholders to secure clinical consensus and champion co-design principles.

What You Will Bring

You are a strategic thinker with a proven track record of system wide clinical planning navigating ambiguity and complexity in a large-scale health environment.

• 10+ years of experience in strategic and clinical health planning, with demonstrated success in delivering cross-system clinical service plans.
• A relevant tertiary qualification (e.g., Health Planning, Public Health, Clinical Discipline).
• Expert knowledge of the New Zealand health system structure, funding, and policy environment.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and clinical leaders to drive large-scale, strategic change.
• Exceptional analytical skills to interpret complex health data, model demand, and perform gap analyses.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication, coupled with strong facilitation skills for engaging diverse stakeholders.
• A non-negotiable commitment to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities across all service planning.

If you are ready to take on a leadership role that offers both significant scale and the opportunity to make a profound difference to health equity in the Te Manawa Taki region and are based in the region, we want to hear from you.

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.

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

Job details

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