Programme (Project) Practice Lead

Programme / Project Practice Lead

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

Are you ready to step into a role where strategy meets delivery? As the Programme / Project Practice Lead within Digital Services at Southern Cross Healthcare (SCHL), you’ll be at the forefront of building and embedding best-practice project and programme management. Leading a talented team of Project Managers and Coordinators, you’ll ensure methodologies, frameworks, and standards are consistently applied—driving high-quality, on-time, and on-budget delivery of initiatives that bring SCHL’s digital strategy to life.

Your leadership will set the tone for excellence : fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth across the team, while ensuring projects are well-resourced, risks are managed proactively, and outcomes exceed expectations. You’ll oversee performance management, quality assurance, and governance processes that keep programmes and projects aligned to SCHL’s strategic goals, while acting as the key escalation point to resolve challenges and keep delivery on track.

Beyond leading the practice, you’ll also stay close to the action—stepping into high-priority or complex projects when needed and working alongside stakeholders to understand their needs, manage expectations, and build trust. With a focus on continuous improvement, you’ll refine frameworks, embrace industry best practice, and evolve the project management function to remain agile and responsive in a fast-changing environment.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Proven Leadership & People Skills – 7+ years in programme / project management, including 3–5 years leading teams of Project Managers and Coordinators. You know how to mentor, inspire, and develop people while building a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Project & Programme Mastery – A track record of delivering complex, multi-stream projects and programmes from end to end. Skilled in project planning, execution, risk management, governance, and quality assurance, you consistently ensure outcomes align with strategic business goals.
• Frameworks & Best Practice – Hands-on experience establishing and evolving project management frameworks, standards, and methodologies in complex organisational environments, with an eye for continuous improvement and industry best practice.
• Resource & Performance Management – Strong capability in forecasting, allocating, and optimising resources across business-as-usual and project initiatives, while monitoring performance and ensuring teams deliver on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication – Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment, transparency, and clear reporting on performance, risks, and outcomes.
• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving – Sharp analytical skills and a solution-focused mindset, with the ability to tackle complex challenges, make sound decisions, and implement effective solutions in dynamic environments.
• Commitment to Growth – A relevant bachelor’s degree (Business, IT, or similar), with professional certifications such as PRINCE2 or PMP highly desirable. Agile experience is an advantage, alongside a personal commitment to ongoing professional development in leadership and programme / project management.

Ngā mea ka taea e mātou te tuku I a koe | What we can offer you

Ko wai matou | Our Organisation

At Southern Cross Healthcare, our purpose is clear : to advance quality healthcare across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our values shape everything we do :

Tō mātou whakahaere ki te tika, te rerekētanga, me te whai wāhi mai | Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

If you have specific needs or would like to discuss how we can support you, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at for a confidential conversation.

Join us, and together, each of us can be part of something important, helping people live their best lives by reimagining healthcare.

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