Chief Executive, Health Hawke’s Bay

• Lead the next chapter for Health Hawke’s Bay, revitalise culture, strengthening performance and positioning the organisation for success in a changing and increasingly competitive primary health care environment.
• Build trusted partnerships with general practice, Māori health providers, iwi, NGOs and communities to improve access, equity and health outcomes across Hawke’s Bay.
• Bring your leadership at a pivotal moment – an opportunity equally suited to an accomplished Chief Executive or a high-performing senior executive ready to step into their first CE role.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Health Hawke’s Bay – Te Oranga o Te Matau a Māui is the region’s Primary Health Organisation, supporting practices caring for approximately 110,000 of Hawke’s Bay’s 171,000 enrolled patients. Its purpose is clear: to improve the health of the people of Hawke’s Bay and close the gap in health and life expectancy for Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people and other communities currently poorly served.

This is an important moment in the organisation’s evolution. Following significant recent change, Health Hawke’s Bay is entering its next chapter with an opportunity to revitalise its culture, sharpen its focus and strengthen its position within the region.

The external environment is also changing. With two new PHOs entering the Hawke’s Bay market, the next Chief Executive will lead Health Hawke’s Bay in demonstrating its value and relevance to practices, providers, partners and communities. Central to this will be ensuring the organisation remains deeply connected to local need and is known for the strength of its relationships, responsiveness and ability to make a tangible difference.

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to shape an organisation with a strong local purpose and significant potential – building on its foundations while bringing renewed energy, clarity and confidence to its future direction.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Board Chair and leading an Executive Leadership Team of five, the Chief Executive has overall responsibility for Health Hawke’s Bay’s organisational leadership, performance and delivery.

The immediate leadership mandate will be to bring the organisation together following a period of change. The Chief Executive will lead a revitalisation of culture, establish clarity of purpose and accountability, strengthen organisational capability and create an environment characterised by trust, inclusion and high performance. The role requires a leader who can assess what is needed, establish priorities and translate strategy into sustained delivery.

Externally, the Chief Executive will be visible and highly relational. They will ensure Health Hawke’s Bay understands and responds to the needs of general practice while building genuine and durable partnerships with Māori health providers, iwi, NGOs and community organisations. They will champion integrated approaches that organise care around whānau and communities rather than organisational boundaries.

The Chief Executive will also provide strong commercial, financial and contractual stewardship, ensuring Health Hawke’s Bay remains financially sustainable, meets its obligations to funders and identifies opportunities that respond to local need and deliver value for money.

Ultimately, success will be reflected in an organisation that practices value and rely upon; that Māori providers, NGOs and communities regard as a genuine partner; that delivers measurable improvements in access and outcomes; and whose people are engaged, clear about their purpose and performing.

THE CANDIDATE

Health Hawke’s Bay is open-minded about where the right leadership may come from. You may already be an established Chief Executive, or an accomplished senior executive ready to step into your first CE appointment. More important than tenure in the top job will be your leadership maturity, judgement, credibility and ability to lead successfully through change.

You will bring:

A strong connection to purpose, motivated by the opportunity to improve health outcomes and make a tangible difference for the people and communities of Hawke’s Bay.

• Proven executive leadership, with the maturity, judgement and personal credibility to lead an organisation through significant change and its next stage of development.
• A strong understanding of primary and community health, including the operating realities and pressures facing general practice and independent providers.
• Demonstrated success leading culture and organisational change, bringing people together around a clear purpose while strengthening trust, accountability and performance.
• A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and health equity, with the ability to build trusted relationships with Māori, iwi, Māori health providers and communities.
• Exceptional relationship and influencing capability, able to establish credibility with clinicians, practices, NGOs, communities, funders, government and other partners.
• Sound commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to balance purpose, sustainability, contractual obligations and opportunities for growth and innovation.
• A visible, accessible and authentic leadership style, underpinned by high emotional intelligence, resilience, political acumen and the confidence to have difficult conversations when required.
• A strong connection to purpose, motivated by the opportunity to improve health outcomes and make a tangible difference for the people and communities of Hawke’s Bay.

For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:

David Price
National Manager, New Zealand
​M. +64 (0)21 0239 2211 | E. dprice@hardygroupintl.com

HOW TO APPLY

The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 22nd September 2026

The reference number to include in your application is H26_5579