Research Project Manager - Planning, Funding & Outcomes

• 12-month fixed Term Senior Research Project Manager opportunity based at the North Shore, Auckland
• A unique opportunity to lead the research workstream for a Lung Screening Mobile Pilot
• Help generate the evidence that will inform the future of equitable lung screening in Aotearoa New Zealand

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 a Research Project Manager, you will play a critical role in supporting the successful delivery of the Lung Screening Mobile Pilot, leading the research workstream that will generate evidence to inform the future implementation of a national lung screening programme.

In this role, you will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring the research activities associated with the pilot programme. You will work closely with clinicians, researchers, implementation teams, and technical experts to develop and manage key research components, including study protocols, participant materials, ethics and locality approvals, data management processes, privacy documentation, and research governance requirements.

You will oversee research deliverables, manage dependencies across operational, clinical, digital, and implementation workstreams, and provide regular reporting on milestones, risks, and issues. This is an exciting opportunity to combine project management expertise with research and health system innovation to support a programme that has the potential to improve outcomes for communities across Aotearoa.

The pilot is a partnership between Planning, Funding \& Outcomes and National Public Health Services, working closely with Hawkes Bay and Lakes Districts

About the Project

The Lung Screening Mobile Pilot is a nationally significant initiative that will help shape the future of lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. Building on the learnings from The Lung Cancer Screening Research Programme. The pilot has been established to test and refine the feasibility, effectiveness, and equity of mobile screening delivery. Operating across the Hawke's Bay and Lakes districts, the programme will bring screening closer to communities, improve access to early detection, and support better health outcomes through the identification of lung cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage.

About you

As an experienced project manager with a passion for health research, you will bring strong organisational skills, research programme coordination experience, and the ability to work effectively across complex stakeholder environments.

You will ideally have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience in project management, research coordination, public health, or a related field
• Experience implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice
• Demonstrated experience managing or coordinating health research projects or research implementation activities within New Zealand
• Experience working with clinicians, researchers, governance groups, and multidisciplinary teams in a complex health setting
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand health research processes, including ethics approvals, locality authorisation, research governance, and privacy requirements
• Experience developing and managing research documentation, including study protocols, participant information materials, standard operating procedures, data management plans, and privacy impact assessments
• An understanding of health data governance, information privacy, and the management of sensitive health information
• Strong project management capability, including planning, risk management, reporting, and stakeholder engagement
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports, governance papers, and project documentation
• The ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities while maintaining a strong focus on delivery and quality
• A commitment to improving health equity and outcomes for Māori, Pacific peoples, and other priority populations

Desirable experience includes:

• Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles
• Experience working within screening programmes, public health initiatives, clinical research, or implementation science environments

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 11:59PM Wednesday 9 September 2026. For further information, please contact Lynda Francis on [email protected]

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