Portfolio Manager, Primary Health

Portfolio Manager

Can be based in MidCentral, Whanganui or Hawke's Bay, Permanent Full-time with a hybrid model – 3 days in the office

Shape the future of community health services across Aotearoa

Use your commissioning, analytical and relationship management expertise

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 Portfolio Manager, you will play a key role in planning, funding, designing and improving community health services across a portfolio of service areas. Working alongside Senior Portfolio Managers, System Design Managers and Project Managers, you will help translate strategic priorities into effective programmes and services that respond to the needs of patients, whānau and communities.

You'll work across the commissioning cycle, using evidence, data and stakeholder insights to identify opportunities for service development, redesign and investment. You'll contribute to service specifications and procurement processes, manage provider relationships and contracts, monitor performance, and support continuous improvement. You'll also develop high-quality reports, business cases and advice for senior leaders and decision-making groups.

This is an opportunity to work at a strategic and operational level, influencing how health services are planned and delivered. You'll build strong partnerships across Health NZ, government agencies, providers, clinicians, communities and other stakeholders to support integrated models of care and better access and outcomes.

About the Team and Location

You'll be part of a collaborative team working across the Planning, Funding and Outcomes (PFO) environment. The team works closely with Hauora Māori Services, Pacific Health, national and regional teams, to support the planning, commissioning, funding, and performance of health services across the Central Region. The Central Region spans the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, Wairarapa, MidCentral, Hawke's Bay, and Whanganui localities, providing a diverse and rewarding operating environment.

While the PFO team works across the full Central Region, this position is focused on the northern part of the region, primarily supporting MidCentral, Hawke's Bay, and Whanganui communities and providers. The role offers the opportunity to work closely with local health sector partners while contributing to regional and national priorities.

About you

You'll be an experienced health, commissioning, programme or portfolio professional who can combine strong analytical capability with excellent relationship management and influencing skills. You'll be comfortable working with complexity, interpreting evidence and data, and translating insights into practical recommendations and action.

You'll bring:

• A relevant tertiary or professional qualification.
• Experience across the commissioning cycle, including service or investment strategy and provider management.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and evidence and use it to inform decisions.
• Experience in programme or project planning, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes on time and within budget.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports, business cases and advice for senior audiences.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence diverse stakeholders across health, government, community and provider organisations.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and political awareness skills, with an understanding of machinery of government processes.
• A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, improving health outcomes, reducing health inequities and supporting equitable access to care.

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 Tuesday 15 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.