Service Manager – General Surgery

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 the Service Manager for General Surgery, you will play a pivotal leadership role in overseeing and managing the operations of the General Surgery service. You will be responsible for ensuring the efficient delivery of high-quality services, promoting a culture of patient-centred care, and driving operational excellence across the service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the General Surgery service.
• Ensure the effective utilisation of resources, including workforce, equipment, and supplies, to optimise service delivery.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation to enhance service quality and patient outcomes.
• Monitor and evaluate service performance, using key metrics to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including patients, whānau, staff, and external partners.
• Promote a positive, inclusive team culture and support the professional growth and development of staff.
• Ensure compliance with quality and safety standards, regulatory requirements, and organisational policies.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, contributing to financial sustainability.
• Manage all Recruitment and FTE oversight for the department.
• Lead and support change initiatives, embedding a culture of adaptability and resilience.

Skills and Experience:

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A strong background in management, ideally within surgical services or health care management.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to lead, develop, and support high-performing teams.
• Sound knowledge of healthcare operations, quality improvement, and patient safety principles.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets.
• Strong Recruitment and FTE management experience.
• An understanding of relevant healthcare regulations and accreditation standards.
• A proactive and adaptable leadership approach.
  

Working at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and values‑led workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Māori, Pacific, disabled and rainbow communities, and from leaders who share our commitment to equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Lily Simons lily.simons@tewhatuora.govt.nz

To view the position description please click apply now and this will direct you to our careers page.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert,  we encourage you to apply early.

Position description Apply now

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