Senior Portfolio Manager, Mental Health and Addictions - North

# Senior Portfolio Manager, Mental Health and Addictions - North at Te Whatu Ora, Manawatu / Whanganui## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role* **Can be based in the Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North, or Whanganui, Permanent Full-time*** **Lead transformational change that improves health outcomes across Aotearoa*** **Influence strategic investment decisions, lead complex service redesign, and work alongside passionate professionals**Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.**About the Role**As a **Senior Portfolio Manager**, you will provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of health commissioning contracts, programmes and service redesign initiatives that improve health outcomes and deliver sustainable value across the health system. Working at a system level, you'll help shape future models of care by leading commissioning activities, influencing investment decisions and driving innovative approaches to service planning and delivery.This is a highly collaborative role where you'll partner with clinicians, providers, consumers, communities and government agencies to design, commission and continuously improve health services. You'll lead complex programmes from strategy through implementation, oversee provider performance, support procurement and contract management, and provide trusted advice to senior leaders. Your work will directly contribute to improving equity, strengthening health services and delivering better outcomes for New Zealanders.**About the Team and Location**You'll join a high-performing Planning, Funding and Outcomes team responsible for commissioning services that respond to the changing needs of communities across Aotearoa. Working alongside experienced commissioning, planning and system design professionals, you'll contribute to nationally significant programmes while building strong partnerships across Health New Zealand and the wider health sector.**About you**You are an experienced strategic leader with a proven track record of delivering complex programmes and influencing system-wide change. You bring a strong understanding of health commissioning, service design and programme delivery, and can confidently navigate complex and often ambiguous environments while balancing strategic priorities, stakeholder expectations and organisational objectives.A natural relationship builder, you establish credibility with a diverse range of stakeholders, including clinicians, providers, government agencies, Māori, Pacific partners and communities. You are comfortable leading through influence, using evidence and data to inform decision-making, and bringing people together to design and implement innovative solutions that improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.You are motivated by creating meaningful change, demonstrate sound judgement and political awareness, and bring a collaborative leadership style that supports others to succeed while delivering high-quality results.**You will bring:*** A relevant tertiary or professional qualification.* Significant experience leading health commissioning, service design, programme delivery or investment strategies within a complex organisation.* Demonstrated experience designing and implementing system or service improvements that deliver measurable outcomes.* Proven ability to lead large, complex programmes and manage competing priorities through planning, implementation and evaluation.* Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across the health sector.* Excellent strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to translate data and evidence into practical solutions.* Experience preparing high-quality business cases, strategic advice and reports for senior leaders and decision-makers.**Working at 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.**How to Apply**To apply, please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by **11:59PM Monday 20 July 2026**. For further information, please contact Jenita Spencer on [email protected].***Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected kaimahi will be given preference and priority for this position.******We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.***## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | Te Whatu Ora || Location: | Manawatu / Whanganui || Position type: | Permanent Full time || Category: | Accounting & finance || Date listed: | 06-Jul-2026 || Salary range: | N/A || Closing date: | 20-Jul-2026 || Reference: | HNZ/1934192 || Attachment: | Position Description - Senior Portfolio Manager 1934192.pdf (PDF, 353KB) Job Description || File links: | || Website: | | #J-18808-Ljbffr