Reporting to the Executive Regional Director (ERD) Te Manawa Taki, the Group Director Operations (GDO) is responsible for delivering equitable, safe and effective hospital and specialist services that align with and deliver against the Health Delivery Plan and Health Targets.

They will support the delivery of the Hospital & Specialist Services (H&SS) local, regional and national priorities by working with clinical leadership to lead change programmes and manage resource allocation in their area.

The position is accountable for H&SS clinical and operational performance in the Lakes District. This includes community-based care provided by Health NZ employed staff in areas such as mental health and addiction, and rehabilitation. Collaborating with other GDOs in the region to achieve the Health Delivery Plan and regional health targets at a system level is critical.

The Lakes workforce includes over 1,842 staff, reflecting significant ethnic and demographic diversity, and collaborates regionally with other hospitals in Te Manawa Taki to enhance health outcomes. There are two hospital sites in the district, Rotorua and Taupo.

Operational Impact

This role will provide leadership that builds high performing, outcome driven hospital and specialist service delivery systems that deliver on the expectations of Health NZ, the New Zealand Health Plan (Te Pae Tata) and the Pae Ora legislation.

This role will ensure a workplace culture that reflects the New Zealand Health Charter - Te Mauri o Rongo, giving life to the values, expectations and behaviours it outlines.

This role will ensure that the experience of patients and their whānau drives how services are delivered and is an important focus of service delivery improvement.

This role will always operate with the good of the New Zealand Public Health System in mind, now and for the future.

Patients, Whānau & Communities

• Improve experience and health outcomes for patients, whānau and the community. Meet service delivery expectations for the district, including National Health Targets.
• Ensure equitable access to health care for Māori and other population groups (including Pacific and Disabled People).

Clinical Partnerships

• Ensure clinical voice (with relevant expertise) in all significant decision making.

Planning

• Plan how the district will deliver the health services outlined by the New Zealand Health Plan and National Clinical Services Plan, and against health targets.
• Ensure that district planning considers requirements of IMPBs, providers and key stakeholders.

Service Delivery

• Deliver health services to achieve the defined outcomes for patients, whānau and community.
• Deliver on district projects outlined by the New Zealand Health Plan. Deliver national programmes within the district.

Financial

• Live within budgets and funding.
• Ensure ongoing financial sustainability of all operating and capital expenditure within district.
• Maximise value for money from investments in the district
• Ensure the annual budget, national contracts and financial policies are adhered to across the district.

People

• Maximise the potential of our workforce including their ongoing development, health safety and wellbeing.
• Ensure that the district has the required workforce capacity (up to establishment levels) to deliver safe, quality services.
• Ensure national people policies are adhered to across the district.

Digital Systems

• Ensure that the dedicated digital systems in the district meet operational needs.

Data and Information

• Ensure that data and information is available from the district to support regional and national performance management, planning and insights development.

Infrastructure

• Liaise with Infrastructure to ensure prioritisation of maintenance and the development of capital programme requirements.

Risk & Assurance

• Proactively managing and addressing all risks for which the officer is the accountable risk holder.
• Identifying operational, financial and clinical risks in place across the district and having appropriate mitigations in place.
• Escalate significant risks to regional or national risk processes for management.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

• Comply with statutory and ethical obligations to keep patients, whānau, communities and workforce safe where Health NZ is a PCBU.
• Eliminate, mitigate and protect against health, safety and wellbeing issues within available controls, and escalate risks which cannot be appropriately or sufficiently controlled with available levers.

Legal

• Comply with all legal obligations. Mitigate legal risks to Health NZ.
• Seek legal advice and support from the Legal team as required.

Communications

• Ensure effective internal and external communications to staff, stakeholders and media.

Privacy

• Ensure compliance with Privacy Act and the Health Information Privacy Code (HIPC).
• Support embedding of privacy culture.
• Ensure effective management of privacy breaches.

Information Management

• Ensure compliance with Public Records Act. Ensure effective management of information.

View the full scope of these in the Position Description.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Extensive experience in healthcare environments
• Proven experience successfully leading diverse teams through change and achieving agreed KPIs
• Bachelors degree and post graduate diploma or degree

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

• Pae Ora & Te Tiriti o Waitangi - demonstrates an understanding of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the significance and obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to give effect to these expectations in a meaningful way, and the commitments to equity and priorities of Wai2575. Have an appreciation of cross-cultural matters, including knowledge of tikanga Māori (or a willingness to learn).
• Leadership and management – ability to think, plan and act strategically and to connect with and inspire people to build a highly motivated and engaged workforce. Demonstrates inclusive leadership and management skills able to maximise the quality and contributions of individuals and teams to drive outcomes.
• Communication and relationship effectiveness – demonstrates mature communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to write and present in a clear, persuasive, and impactful way, to influence others to embrace change, and to develop, unify and maintain strong internal and external relationships essential for achieving sustainable outcomes.
• Planning and direction – have the ability to maintain oversight of work responsibilities, to identify business / project requirements, to develop / contribute to strategies, to plan, prioritise, delegate and organise work to deliver on short and long-term objectives across the breadth of the role.
• Operational management – have the ability to monitor and analyse performance to ensure the quality of work, identify areas of improvement, problem solve, and make sound decisions to achieve goals.
• Continuous improvement – demonstrates an openness to the views of others, and an ability to model an agile1 approach that creates a culture where individuals at all levels bring their ideas and issues for constructive debate and finding improved ways forward. Has networks to support current knowledge of leading practices.
• Dealing with ambiguity – demonstrates is comfortable with change and uncertainty.
• Financial management – has a solid understanding of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost management.
• Compliance and risk management - demonstrates an understanding of organisational risk and compliance, legal and regulatory requirements regarding relevant regulations and standards in New Zealand, to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Essential:

• Demonstrate proven track record of achievement in a complex and challenging healthcare environment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to apply Te Tiriti principles in a meaningful way in your role.
• Maximise the quality and contributions of individuals and teams to achieve the organisation’s vision, purpose and goals.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with people at all levels within the public and private sectors, related industry and community interest groups and the wider national and international communities.
• Demonstrate a strong drive to deliver and take personal responsibility.
• Demonstrate self-awareness of your impact on people and invests in your own leadership practice to continuously grow and improve.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of personal, professional and institutional behaviour through commitment, loyalty and integrity.

1. District‑Level Accountability for Hospital and Specialist Service Outcomes

Demonstrated senior executive experience holding end‑to‑end accountability for hospital and specialist service delivery within complex healthcare systems. Proven ability to lead multiple services across acute, specialist, and community settings, ensuring delivery of equitable, safe, and effective care at district level. Brings sound judgement, operational discipline, and executive presence to consistently deliver against Health Targets, national priorities, and community expectations.

2. Translating National Direction into Local System Performance

Proven experience operationalising national and regional strategies within local health systems. Demonstrated ability to align district services with the New Zealand Health Plan, National Clinical Services Plan, and regional objectives, while responding to local population needs. Skilled in coordinating services across sites and disciplines, reducing fragmentation, and contributing to region‑wide performance through strong collaboration with peer executives.

3. Leading Change in Complex, High‑Risk Clinical Environments

Extensive experience leading large‑scale change in complex clinical and operational settings, including during periods of uncertainty and reform. Demonstrated ability to balance short‑term delivery pressures with longer‑term transformation, maintaining service continuity while improving quality, access, and outcomes. Able to lead decisively through ambiguity, challenge constructively, and sustain momentum for improvement.

4. Stewardship of Resources and Performance Integrity

Demonstrated capability in managing significant public resources with integrity and transparency. Proven experience in financial stewardship, budget management, and performance oversight across large service portfolios. Brings strong analytical and decision‑making skills to ensure services operate within funding, deliver value for money, and support sustainable infrastructure and workforce capacity.

5. Creating the Conditions for a High‑Performing Workforce

Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a large, diverse workforce within complex organisational environments. Demonstrated commitment to building a culture that reflects Te Mauri o Rongo, where people feel safe, supported, and accountable. Experienced in workforce planning, leadership development, health, safety and wellbeing, and fostering inclusive, high‑trust environments that enable people to perform at their best.

6. Assurance, Risk Management and Organisational Trust

Extensive experience establishing and maintaining robust assurance, risk, and compliance practices at executive level. Demonstrated ability to identify, manage, and escalate operational, clinical, financial, legal, and privacy risks, ensuring appropriate mitigations are in place. Maintains high standards of personal and institutional integrity, reinforcing public trust in the health system.

7. Partnership‑Based Leadership and Influential Relationships

Highly developed relationship leadership capability, with a proven ability to build productive, respectful partnerships across iwi Māori Partnership Boards, unions, clinical leaders, enabling functions, and external stakeholders. Demonstrates mature communication skills and emotional intelligence, enabling influence across professional and organisational boundaries to achieve shared outcomes for patients, whānau, and communities.

8. Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Pae Ora and Equity‑Driven Practice

Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. Proven experience giving practical effect to Te Tiriti principles in senior leadership roles, including partnering with Māori, supporting Māori health aspirations, and advancing equity. Brings cultural capability, respect for tikanga Māori, and a clear focus on improving outcomes for Māori and other priority populations.

Reports to: Executive Regional Director, Te Manawa Taki.

Direct Reports: Up to 12

External:

• Iwi Maori Partnership Boards
• Union Partners

Internal:

• Executive Regional Directors
• Local and national enabling group and clinical leaders
• Other District Group Director Operations

Please speak to our HG Principal Consultant.

Service Location: Rotorua, New Zealand

Position Description

Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand Website

Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand Clinical Leadership Team

The closing date for applications is Monday, 1 June 2026

The reference number to include in your application is H26_5509

Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email. (Please see the "Apply Now" button below)

If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Aldie Zuñiga: M: +61 (0)494 101 082 / E: azuniga@hardygroupintl.com

Your application must include:

1. 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
2. 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
3. 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.

It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.

For a confidential discussion, please contact:

David Price
​​National Manager, HardyGroup New Zealand
​​M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211
​​E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com