- Executive clinical leadership role within a respected, community-owned hospice delivering specialist palliative care across the Nelson Tasman region.
- Lead the evolution of care delivery, shifting from traditional hospice models toward integrated, community-oriented and interdisciplinary models of care.
- Join a high-performing senior leadership team and contribute strategically while ensuring operational excellence, workforce wellbeing, and clinical governance.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Nelson Tasman Hospice (NTH) is entering an important phase of development. With a strong foundation, committed community support, and a values-driven culture, the organisation is well positioned to evolve how specialist palliative care is delivered across the region.
The Board and Chief Executive are seeking a Clinical Services Director who will help steward this evolution, strengthening clinical excellence while shaping more sustainable, equitable and community-connected models of care. This is an opportunity to influence not only service delivery within the hospice but also the broader palliative and end-of-life care landscape in partnership with Health NZ, primary care, aged residential care, and Māori and Pacific providers.
The appointment will suit a leader motivated by impact, someone who sees hospice care as both a deeply human service and a critical component of an integrated health system.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Chief Executive and serving as a key member of Te Kāhui Manukura (Senior Leadership Team), the Clinical Services Director (CSD) holds strategic and operational accountability for all clinical services, including nursing, allied health, health care assistants and patient-facing volunteers.
Working in close partnership with the Medical Director, the CSD will:
- Provide strong clinical governance and quality leadership.
- Develop and implement sustainable workforce and service strategies.
- Lead interdisciplinary practice and foster collaborative team culture.
- Embed equity principles and Te Tiriti o Waitangi across clinical delivery.
- Ensure safe, effective and person-centred care through robust systems of performance, audit and continuous improvement.
Critically, the role requires both strategic foresight and operational discipline, the ability to translate vision into day-to-day delivery while contributing meaningfully at executive level. The CSD will respectfully challenge where required, hold their own within senior forums, and balance empathy with accountability.
THE CANDIDATE
The preferred candidate will bring strong technical credibility, ideally with a nursing or allied health background and experience aligned to palliative care, oncology or complex community-based health services.
Most importantly, they will be an experienced and highly capable leader. The Hospice is seeking:
- An empathetic and emotionally intelligent leader who builds trust and fosters psychological safety.
- A strategic thinker with the courage and clarity to help evolve traditional hospice models.
- A leader of interdisciplinary teams who promotes collaboration, resilience and high performance.
- A community-oriented executive who understands the importance of equity, cultural responsiveness and partnership.
- An operationally astute leader who can manage budgets, workforce planning and service performance while maintaining clinical excellence.
This is a role for a clinically credible, values-aligned leader who combines heart with discipline, someone who can honour the Hospice’s legacy while helping shape its future.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
David Price
HG National Manager, New Zealand
M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211 | E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com
HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is Monday, 30 March 2026
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5359.
