- Lead one of New Zealand’s most significant portfolios, enabling the systems, people and capability that underpin the country’s largest health organisation.
- Partner with the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team to modernise national services, strengthen workforce capability and support the delivery of Health New Zealand priorities.
- Drive practical improvement across people, culture, health and safety and national people services while building a more modern, connected and responsive organisation.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Leadership changes organisations. People leaders change health systems.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an exceptional executive to lead its People and Culture and Health and Safety portfolio. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, you will shape the strategy, capability and culture of New Zealand’s largest workforce, supporting more than 100,000 people to deliver exceptional care for patients, whānau and communities.
This is one of the broadest executive leadership portfolios in New Zealand. While encompassing people, culture and health and safety, the role is equally focused on organisational performance, modernisation, workforce capability and enabling Health New Zealand to operate as a nationally connected organisation that is focused on health service delivery for all New Zealanders.
THE ROLE
As Executive National Director, you will provide executive leadership across workforce strategy, people and culture, industrial relations, health and safety, emergency management and organisational capability.
Partnering with the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team, you will help shape a culture that enables people to thrive while supporting the delivery of Health New Zealand priorities and improving health outcomes for patients, whānau and communities.
You will build trusted relationships across unions, professional bodies, government agencies and sector leaders, balancing long-term workforce transformation with the operational realities of leading one of New Zealand’s largest and most complex organisations.
Key priorities include strengthening nationally delivered services, supporting functions to deliver locally, modernising enterprise-wide systems such as payroll and people services, and using digital innovation to improve organisational performance.
Success will depend on bringing together diverse teams, coordinating work across a complex national organisation and building trusted relationships with executives, unions, government agencies and regional leaders.
Why This Role?
Every great health system is built on its people.
This role offers the opportunity to shape the future workforce of New Zealand’s largest public organisation while influencing the culture, leadership and capability that underpin exceptional healthcare.
Your leadership will help determine how Health New Zealand attracts, develops, supports and retains its people, creating an environment where clinicians, leaders and support staff can perform at their best and deliver outstanding care to the communities they serve.
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 Sunday, 23rd August 2026, 11:59PM
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5551
Ready to make people your organisation’s greatest asset?