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Vacancy: Director of Health, Tokelau 

The Government of Tokelau is inviting applications from experienced health service managers for the position of Director of Health, Department of Health within the Tokelau Public Services. The appointee would work from Apia, Samoa and the atolls of Tokelau. A minimum appointment of one year is sought to assist Tokelau to strengthen its health services and to train Tokelauan counterparts.

Tokelau consists of three small atolls. It is a New Zealand territory which is moving towards self-government. Although land mass is small the group extends for nearly 200 kilometers. There is a fortnightly round trip shipping service from Apia to Tokelau, with plans for to introduce a regular inter-atoll shipping service.

Tokelauans are New Zealand citizens. Ethnically, they are Polynesian people with strong linguistic, family and cultural links with Samoa and Tuvalu. About 1500 Tokelauans are resident on the atolls.

Health services on the atolls are managed by each atoll’s Taupulega or Council of Elders. A National Health Department provides support services to the village health services and provides a link to health serves and technical support in the outside world.

The official Tokelau website is found at www.tokelau.org.nz

Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the Director of Health are to:

• Provide leadership for the development of effective health services in Tokelau in order to improve and maintain the health of its residents.

• provide the Minister for Health and the Council for Ongoing Government with sound advice on the development and maintenance of effective health services in Tokelau.

• Provide the Councils of Elders (Taupulega) with advice and support on the development and maintenance of effective health services in their villages.

• Ensure that residents of Tokelau requiring secondary and tertiary health services are referred for appropriate diagnosis and treatment
  in Samoa or New Zealand

• Manage the staff of the national Health Department in order to provide high quality support and services to the three Taupulega to benefit the health of the residents of Tokelau.

• Manage the budget for the national Health Department in order to provide high quality support and services to benefit the health of the residents of Tokelau.

Experience
Applicants should have:

•  Well-developed consultative and motivational style of leadership

• Proven health management, planning, policy development and organisational skills and experience

• Ability to maximise the use of resources to benefit the health of the residents of Tokelau

• Highly develop communication skills and strong community and public health focus

• Awareness of and sensitivity to Tokelau culture and customs
  (knowledge of Tokelau culture is preferred but not essential)

• A tertiary qualification, ideally in the health area

The salary is negotiable depending on qualifications and experiences

 For any further information on the vacancy, please contact either:

• Sonja Easterbrook-Smith, Health Advisor for Tokelau on 04 388 5535 or at ses@ihug.co.nz  between 21 January and 17 February or

• Tony Johns, Public Service Advisor on 04 385 7326 or at tonyjohnswn@hotmail.com between 17 February and 17 March 2006.

Applications close on Friday 17 March 2006. Applications should be sent electronically together with CVs to Sonja Easterbrook-Smith at the Office of the Administrator of Tokelau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington. The email address is Sonja.Easterbrook-Smith@mfat.govt.nz