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Posted 16 July, 2026

Senior Portfolio Manager, Mental Health and Addictions - North

Healthline
Whanganui, MWT, NZ Full Time
Reference: 7efd27c1c246462d

Job Description

Senior Portfolio Manager, Mental Health and Addictions - North 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 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. Job details Job Reference: HNZ/1934192 Location: North Island - Manawatu / Whanganui - Palmerston North Location: North Island - Manawatu / Whanganui - Whanganui Location: North Island - Hawke's Bay - Central Hawke's Bay District Job type: Permanent Full time Expertise: Non-clinical - Funding and Planning #J-18808-Ljbffr

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