Lead OST service improvements across Manawatu-Whanganui region

Specialty Clinical Nurse, OST Service

Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) Service

Palmerston North Based | Regional Role | Full Time

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.

Are you an experienced Registered Nurse looking for a role that combines clinical expertise, leadership, autonomy, and purpose?

We're looking for a passionate and skilled Specialty Clinical Nurse to join our Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) Service. This is more than a nursing role. It's an opportunity to lead recovery, influence practice, support service development, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and whānau across the MidCentral region.

Working as part of a highly experienced multidisciplinary team, you'll provide specialist clinical care while contributing to leadership, quality improvement, and innovation within addiction services.

Why You'll Love This Role

No two days are the same.

One day you'll be supporting a person taking significant steps towards recovery. The next, you'll be providing clinical leadership, collaborating with GPs and pharmacists, mentoring colleagues, and helping shape the future of addiction services.

You'll enjoy the autonomy of managing your own caseload, the challenge of complex clinical work, and the satisfaction of knowing your work genuinely changes lives.

What You'll Be Doing

  • Providing specialist clinical assessments and treatment planning
  • Managing a caseload within the OST service
  • Supporting people and whānau on their recovery journey
  • Building strong relationships with GPs, pharmacists, primary care providers, and community agencies
  • Providing clinical leadership and expert nursing advice
  • Supporting quality improvement and service development initiatives
  • Mentoring and supporting staff and students
  • Championing recovery-focused and culturally responsive practice
  • Travelling throughout the region to support service delivery
  • Occasionally becoming very familiar with the location of the best coffee stops across MidCentral

We're Looking For Someone Who

  • Is a Registered Nurse with a current APC
  • Has experience in Mental Health and/or Addiction Services
  • Is confident working autonomously and making sound clinical decisions
  • Enjoys building trusted therapeutic relationships
  • Is passionate about improving outcomes for people and whānau
  • Brings leadership, initiative, and a solutions-focused approach
  • Can navigate change, complexity, and the occasional technology challenge with humour
  • Holds a current Full NZ Driver Licence

What We Offer

  • A supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team
  • Leadership and professional development opportunities
  • Meaningful work with real impact
  • Opportunities to influence service delivery and innovation
  • Variety, autonomy, and challenge
  • A workplace where your ideas are welcomed and valued
  • The chance to make a lasting difference in your community

Interested?

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Fran Bettridge, District Addictions Lead – District Addiction Services

Manawatū offers the perfect blend of city convenience and rural charm. Whether you're drawn to peaceful village life, vibrant townships, or the buzz of the city, you'll find your ideal lifestyle here. It's a family-friendly region that's easy to live in and even easier to love. The region is also home to excellent schools and two tertiary institutions: Massey University and the International Pacific College.

Outdoor enthusiasts are spoiled for choice—beaches, ski fields, lakes, and mountains are all within reach, along with fantastic hiking and mountain biking tracks. With no traffic and a short commute to work, achieving true work-life balance is the everyday reality.

Our central location makes it easy to explore the rest of New Zealand, whether you're heading off on a road trip or catching a short flight.

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 the advertised date.

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.

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