- Lead a community-owned rural health hub in South Otago
- Actively improve health outcomes
- Step up opportunity with strong Board support
- Balclutha based + competitive salary
About the Organisation:
Clutha Health First (CHF) is a community-owned health and disability service provider based in Balclutha, at the heart of the Clutha District. Established by the local community during the health reforms of the early 2000s, CHF now holds contracts with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Southern, WellSouth Primary Health Network, the Ministry of Health and ACC to deliver an integrated range of hospital, primary care and community services – including a 14-bed rural hospital, General Practice, primary maternity, district nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiology and mental health support, all under one roof.
Guided by its purpose to Lead – Innovate – Advocate for a healthy community, CHF is proud of its values-led culture and its role as a rural health care provider committed to improving health outcomes for the people of Clutha.
About The Role:
CHF’s Board is looking for an inspiring and energetic leader ready to build on CHF's legacy and shape its future direction with a focus on diversifying and enhancing services provided to the wider communities.
The CEO provides hands-on leadership across all of CHF’s services, working closely with the Board to develop and deliver strategy, and ensure a quality experience for patients across primary, community and hospital care.
A visible leader in a close-knit rural community, the CEO will be expected to establish effective, long-term relationships with key health funders, iwi, Pasifika community groups and neighbouring rural providers.
This role would suit either an experienced CEO or a strong emerging leader ready to step up, with the Board’s support and mentoring.
Ideal Candidate
You will bring genuine health sector leadership experience with a track record of financial discipline, not just clinical delivery. Commercially astute you will identify and negotiate new, sustainable opportunities while also strengthening existing contracts and keeping a keen eye on costs.
Politically aware and pragmatic, you will be comfortable managing community expectations and skilled at building trusted relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders, including health funders, staff and iwi. Genuinely committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, you will have demonstrated experience working with Māori and Pasifika communities.
Change resilient and steady under pressure, you will be able to lead through ongoing sector reform and funding uncertainty, keeping staff engaged and the Board well informed.
Why Balclutha?
Balclutha sits on the banks of the Clutha River, an hour south of Dunedin and at the gateway to the Catlins - one of New Zealand’s most spectacular and unspoilt coastlines, with waterfalls, wildlife and rugged beaches on your doorstep. The town itself offers good schools, affordable housing and a strong, welcoming sense of community, with golf, swimming, and walking and cycling trails - including the scenic Blair Athol Walkway along the riverbank - right in town. For those craving space, scenery, and a genuine small-town welcome without sacrificing an easy commute to Dunedin’s amenities, Balclutha is hard to beat.