PMO Lead

About the role

Tend Health is preparing for a major acquisition: it has agreed to acquire The Doctors, New Zealand’s largest enrolled primary care network, covering 65 clinics and more than 400,000 patients, subject to shareholder approval and completion. To support this large-scale programme, the business needs a PMO Lead to establish and run the programme office from the ground up.

This fixed-term contract is based in Auckland, with work performed on site at Tend HQ. The role is central to keeping the programme disciplined, transparent, and coordinated across all workstreams.

What you will do

You will create the programme management framework from scratch and make sure it stays current, reliable, and usable from day one.

• Set up the core PMO infrastructure, including the integrated programme plan, RAID log, decision register, reporting templates, tools, and governance rhythm.
• Maintain a single integrated plan across four streams of work: IT and cyber, integration, operational, and clinical, aligned to a multi-year clinic wave schedule.
• Manage risks, actions, issues, and decisions, following through on actions and escalating concerns early when needed.
• Track and control dependencies, including the requirement that systems cannot be co-joined until cyber remediation has progressed sufficiently.
• Prepare weekly status updates, programme forum materials, and monthly board and governance packs that are clear, accurate, and decision-ready.
• Act as the main point of coordination for programme information across workstream leads, sponsors, and external advisers.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate has previously established a programme office from scratch and knows how to get it operating quickly, ideally within weeks rather than months. Experience with one’s own chosen toolset is not important; adaptability and discipline are.

You should bring strong PMO or senior delivery experience across complex, multi-workstream programmes, with M&A integration, carve-out, or transformation work seen as an advantage. A sharp approach to governance, RAID management, and reporting is essential, along with the ability to remain calm, independent, and credible with senior executives.

Google Workspace familiarity is expected, and healthcare experience is welcome but not essential. The role requires someone who can start as soon as possible and support the first integration wave.

Additional information

This is a fixed-term contract position based in Auckland, working onsite at Tend HQ. The company is looking for someone available to begin immediately.

The role calls for a person who can build the “spine” of a major programme and keep the delivery engine honest, visible, and coordinated throughout the integration journey.