A person who inspires "passion, pace and positivity" is sought to lead the Southern District Health Board as its chief executive.
The local community, as well as the organisation, is ready for "change", a job description of the role posted on a recruitment agency website says.
"With an active willingness for change both from within the organisation and the community, this role represents a unique and exciting prospect to not only identify opportunities, but to lead and inspire others to take them.
"Over the past 12 months the organisation has steadied and gained forward momentum with the playing field now ready for the next steps in the transformational process.
"This is not a business-as-usual situation, as the DHB needs to learn to live within its means," the job description says.
The Government expects the SDHB to be deficit-free by 2019-20.
An assessment of the Dunedin Hospital rebuild released this week admitted it is "not completely clear at the moment" just how the board would be able to break-even by then.
Projected revenue in 2016-17 is $930 million, and the organisation has about 4500 staff.
Senior doctors’ union spokesman Ian Powell, when contacted for comment, said finding the right person for the role would not be an easy task.
New Zealand had a shortage of top health executives, which made an overseas appointment more likely.
Someone with no experience of the New Zealand health sector "will struggle" because of SDHB’s particular challenges.
"Despite having well-performing health professional staff, Southern has a negative reputation for a range of reasons," Mr Powell said.
The role has been vacant since Carole Heatly left two weeks ago.
It will be filled for six months by experienced health executive Chris Fleming, who has told the ODT he does not intend to apply for the permanent role.
Mr Fleming, who is taking a break from running the Nelson Marlborough DHB, will start the temporary role in Dunedin on Monday.
The board’s 2015-16 deficit has not been confirmed, but is expected to be more than $34 million.
Instead of reporting to an elected board, the chief executive will report to commissioner Kathy Grant.
Applications for the role close on October 2.
