Clinical Advisor - Planning, Funding and Outcomes

Clinical Advisor - Planning, Funding and Outcomes

Based anywhere in the Central Region, Permanent Part-Time, 2 x 0.5 FTE positions available

Shape the future of primary and community healthcare across the Central Region

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 Clinical Advisor, you will be a senior clinical voice within the Central Region, providing expert clinical advice that influences how primary and community health services are designed, funded, integrated and improved. Working at the intersection of clinical practice and system leadership, you will translate clinical evidence, data and frontline insight into clear strategic advice for planning, funding and outcomes teams.

You'll work across the health sector to champion innovative, evidence-informed models of care that improve outcomes, quality and equity. You'll influence service design, clinical governance, commissioning decisions and service transformation, while building strong relationships with clinicians, providers, communities and system leaders. This is a highly influential role where your clinical credibility and systems thinking will help turn national priorities into meaningful change for people and communities across the Central Region.

The role also provides the opportunity to maintain part-time clinical practice, ensuring you remain connected to frontline care while contributing at a regional and system level.

About the Team and Location

You'll join the Central Region Planning, Funding and Outcomes team, working across a complex and diverse health system and in close partnership with national and regional colleagues. You'll collaborate with clinical leaders across Health and Specialist Services, primary and community care, Hauora Māori Services and Pacific Health, helping ensure clinical expertise and the voices of communities are reflected in system planning and service delivery.

About You

You will be a registered health professional with extensive clinical experience, a current Annual Practising Certificate and a strong understanding of the Aotearoa New Zealand health system. You'll bring experience in clinical governance and the confidence to operate across complex healthcare environments, translating clinical expertise into strategic advice and influencing decisions at senior levels.

You'll have clinical expertise and systems experience across one or more of our life course areas – Health of Older People; Maternity, Child, and Youth; Primary Care; and Mental Health and Addictions.

You'll be a systems thinker and trusted relationship builder who can work across professional and organisational boundaries. Most importantly, you'll bring a strong commitment to equity and improving outcomes for priority populations, alongside the ability to maintain part-time clinical practice.

You will bring:

• Extensive clinical experience and current professional registration/APC.
• Strong clinical governance, quality and patient safety experience.
• Strategic and systems-thinking capability, with proven experience influencing change.
• A strong understanding of commissioning, service design and healthcare integration.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder influencing skills.
• Experience using evidence, data and health intelligence to improve outcomes and reduce inequities.
• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for priority populations.
• Curiosity, adaptability and a passion for innovation, service improvement and better healthcare.

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 Thursday 10 September 2026. For further information, please contact Jenita Spencer on Jenita.Spencer@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.