Clinical Director, Kidz First

Key senior leadership, high impact position with one of New Zealands leading public hospitals

Foster a culture that delivers high quality service user outcomes and safe care every time for everyone

Be a part of the senior leadership team who is committed to achieve equity in health

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Clinical Director to provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the Kidz First Division. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced clinician and accomplished leader to influence the future of paediatric healthcare while delivering excellence in patient care, clinical governance, workforce development, and service performance. Reporting to the Group Director of Operations, you will lead the Division in achieving outstanding clinical, operational, and financial outcomes while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and compassionate care. As the most senior leader within the Division, you will be accountable for overall performance and delivery, ensuring services are safe, equitable, efficient, and centred on the needs of children, young people, and their whānau.

Key responsibilities include:

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• Providing visible and inspirational clinical leadership across the Division.
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• Driving exceptional patient care and experience through a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
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• Improving health equity and contributing to better outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples, and communities experiencing health inequities.
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• Building an engaged, high‑performing workforce that values collaboration, kindness, professional development, and innovation.
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• Leading clinical governance, risk management, research, service development, and quality improvement initiatives.
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• Optimising patient flow, operational performance, and sustainable financial management.
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• Contributing as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, helping shape organisational strategy, business planning, and the future direction of Provider Services.
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• Working in partnership with clinical and operational leaders to deliver integrated, high‑quality healthcare services.
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This is a full-time position, combining executive leadership responsibilities with ongoing clinical practice within the service.

You are an actively practicing Clinician with a current APC, who is looking to take on Senior Management responsibility.You will have a track record of delivering effective healthcare services as a Clinician in relevant subspecialty field and have worked in large multifaceted hospitals. Experience and strong evidence of an ability to develop a culture of innovation, performance and transparency focussed on working in the frontline to advocate for patients and frontline staff is essential. Experience of working effectively in a clinical-managerial partnership for the benefit of patients, staff and the service is essential.

Working at Health New ZealandHealth 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.