Director of Nursing & Clinical Services
Hospice Southland | Invercargill
Full-time | 40 hours per week (Monday–Friday)
Salary: $140,000 – $160,000
Hospice Southland is seeking an experienced, values-driven Director of Nursing & Clinical Services to join its senior leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity to shape and strengthen specialist palliative care services across the Southland and Wakatipu regions — from Stewart Island through to Queenstown.
If you're a clinical leader looking for a role where your work truly matters, this is it.
About Hospice Southland
Hospice Southland provides specialist palliative care to people living with life-limiting illness, free of charge, and wherever possible, in the setting of their choice.
Our services include:
- A 6-bed inpatient unit
- Community care supporting over 200 patients at any one time
- A holistic approach to care, supporting not only patients but also their whānau, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
About Invercargill & the Southland Region
Invercargill offers an exceptional quality of life — affordable housing, stunning natural landscapes, and a warm, welcoming community. It's an ideal base for those seeking deeply meaningful work without the pressures of a major city. With Queenstown and Fiordland on your doorstep, and a strong sense of community throughout the region, Southland is a place many people are proud to call home.
The region is also an excellent place to raise a family, with strong infrastructure for children and young people, great schooling options, and a relaxed lifestyle that supports work-life balance. Housing remains significantly more affordable than many other parts of New Zealand, making home ownership much more achievable.
Queenstown is approximately a two-hour drive away, making weekend trips, skiing, and outdoor adventures easily accessible. Hospice Southland also has a Queenstown office/hub, and there is flexibility for the Director of Nursing & Clinical Services to work from there occasionally as required.
The Role
This role provides strategic and operational leadership across all clinical services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient and whānau-centred, evidence-based palliative care across a geographically diverse region.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide visible, values-led clinical and professional leadership
- Lead and manage a team of approximately 26 nursing staff across inpatient and community services
- Provide leadership to clinical teams and/or coordinators across the inpatient unit and community services, as well as the Patient and Family Support Team Leader
- Work in close partnership with the Medical Director to support clinical operations, service quality, workforce performance, and clinical governance
- Maintain clinical oversight of patients and whānau across inpatient and community settings
- Foster a culture of quality improvement, safety, and continuous development
- Build and maintain strong regional partnerships and community relationships
You will also be supported closely by an established senior leadership team, including the CEO, CFO, Queenstown GM and Nurse Practitioners, all of whom are based at our respective Invercargill and Queenstown offices and provide strong operational and clinical support.
About You
You are a clinical leader who brings both credibility and compassion, with the ability to lead teams through complexity while staying grounded in purpose.
You will bring:
- Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current practising certificate
- Significant nursing leadership experience, ideally with exposure to palliative, aged care, or complex care environments
- Strong personal integrity, approachability, and the ability to be a positive role model
- Proven ability to foster collaboration, trust, and accountability across teams
- Confidence being hands-on and contributing operationally when needed
- A passion for delivering holistic, culturally responsive care aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Commitment to building meaningful relationships across the Southland community
Is this role a step up for you? Hospice Southland understands that the right person doesn't always come with the exact job title. If you're currently in a nursing management role and this feels like the natural next step in your career, they want to hear from you. What matters most is that you're a genuine people person, a strong and caring people manager, and someone who leads with humility and a down-to-earth approach. If that sounds like you, don't let the seniority of the title hold you back — reach out for a confidential conversation.
Benefits & Support
Hospice Southland genuinely values its people and offers a supportive and flexible working environment.
Benefits include:
- Relocation support of up to $4,000 available
- Initial accommodation support/setup assistance available
- Flexible start and finish times to support work-life balance and childcare commitments
- Free onsite parking
- Close proximity to local amenities, including the ability to easily head home for lunch
- Four weeks annual leave, increasing to five weeks after five years of service
- Ten days sick leave available from commencement (not after six months)
- Flexibility around start dates — including candidates unavailable until later in the year, as the organisation is focused on finding the right long-term fit rather than rushing the process
We'd Love to Hear From You Hospice Southland is an accredited employer and is open to both New Zealand-based and overseas candidates. Visa support is available for the right person.
If you are based outside the region and considering a move, we encourage you to get in touch for a confidential discussion.
For a confidential discussion or further information, please contact:
Chloe Finucane- Principal Consultant (South Island)
0290 235 3292
chloef@rwrhealth.co.nz
This is a rare opportunity to step into a highly respected organisation and play a key role in shaping the future of palliative care across the region.