- Shape the future of specialist palliative care across Southland and the Wakatipu Basin, combining meaningful clinical practice with influential medical leadership.
- Lead, connect and develop a dedicated medical service, while contributing as a senior leader to clinical governance, organisational strategy and sustainable service delivery.
- Make a meaningful difference for patients and whānau, championing compassionate, equitable and person-centred care grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Hospice South’s values.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Hospice South is seeking an experienced and respected Medical Director and Palliative Medicine Specialist to provide clinical and professional leadership across its specialist palliative care services. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this pivotal role combines direct patient care with executive leadership responsibility for the medical service, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality and sustainable palliative care across inpatient, community, aged residential care and outreach services.
As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide expert medical advice to the CEO and Board while contributing to organisational strategy, clinical governance, workforce planning and service innovation. This is a rare opportunity to influence the future of specialist palliative care across Southland and the Wakatipu Basin, building strong partnerships with Health New Zealand, primary care, Māori health providers, aged care services and other health sector stakeholders.
The role offers the unique balance of remaining closely connected to patient care while leading service excellence, workforce development and regional palliative care capability-building initiatives that deliver meaningful and lasting impact for patients, whānau and communities.
THE ROLE
The Medical Director provides visible and credible leadership of Hospice South’s medical service while maintaining an active specialist palliative medicine practice. Working across inpatient, community, aged residential care and outreach services, the role is responsible for delivering high-quality specialist palliative care and ensuring patients and whānau receive compassionate, coordinated and clinically excellent support.
Leading Medical Officers, Nurse Practitioners and associated medical staff, the Medical Director is accountable for workforce performance, recruitment, professional development, service planning, operational management and sustainable service delivery. The position plays a critical role in clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety and risk management, while contributing strategic medical advice to the Chief Executive Officer, Board and Senior Leadership Team.
The Medical Director will also foster strong relationships across the health system, support the development of palliative care capability throughout the region and champion equitable health outcomes through collaborative partnerships with healthcare providers, community organisations and Māori health partners.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be an accomplished specialist palliative medicine practitioner and credible senior medical leader who combines clinical excellence with a collaborative, visible and values-led approach.
You will bring:
- Substantial specialist palliative medicine experience, with expertise in managing complex palliative care needs across a range of healthcare settings.
- Demonstrated senior medical leadership and people management capability, including developing, supporting and leading medical and multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong experience in clinical governance, quality improvement, risk management and maintaining high standards of safe, evidence-based practice.
- Strategic and change leadership capability, with the judgement to balance organisational priorities and service improvement with active frontline clinical practice.
- The ability to build trusted relationships and bring people together across professional and organisational boundaries, including with executive leaders, clinicians, primary and secondary care, Māori health providers and community partners.
- A strong commitment to person- and whānau-centred care, cultural safety, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and improving health outcomes for Māori.
Most importantly, you will be a compassionate, approachable and collaborative leader who creates confidence and connection. You will be comfortable making and owning difficult decisions while remaining inclusive, respectful and deeply committed to supporting patients and whānau and strengthening specialist palliative care across Southland and the Wakatipu Basin.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
We invite you to discuss this exceptional leadership opportunity with:
Emma Hay Principal Consultant M. +61 0 411 894 540 | E. ehay@hardygroupintl.com OR
David Price National Manager, New Zealand M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211 | E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com
HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 27 September 2026.
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5575.
Ready to make people your organisation’s greatest asset?