Recruitment Partner - Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Portfolio

About the role

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is looking for an experienced recruitment professional to own a complex, highly specialised Senior Medical Officer (SMO) recruitment portfolio across Canterbury and the West Coast. The role is permanent and full-time, based in the city-centre corporate office in Christchurch, and sits within the Waitaha Canterbury Recruitment team. It involves leading end-to-end recruitment, partnering with clinical services and senior leaders, and delivering medical workforce outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end recruitment process, partnering with clinical services and senior leaders to understand workforce requirements and develop recruitment strategies.
• Navigate complex recruitment and Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) registration processes.
• Provide immigration and relocation support and deliver an exceptional candidate experience.
• Manage a substantial, varied portfolio with multiple vacancies, competing priorities and time-sensitive requirements.
• Work with colleagues across recruitment, medical administration and workforce teams, with exposure to senior clinical and executive leadership.

Required profile

• At least five years of professional recruitment or HR experience, including managing complex, specialised or professional recruitment portfolios; medical or healthcare recruitment experience highly regarded.
• Ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders and handle difficult conversations.
• Strong organisation and prioritisation, able to run several complex recruitment processes at once.
• Understanding of the full recruitment lifecycle, from workforce planning and vacancy management to shortlisting, interviews, selection, offers and onboarding.
• Advantageous: knowledge of the Medical Council of New Zealand registration pathways, immigration requirements and recruiting SMOs from overseas.

Applications are made through the online application link; affected employees will be given preference. The closing date is Friday, 20 November 2026.