Head of National People Operations

• Wellington or Auckland (flexible for the right candidate)
• Shape and lead the delivery of people services across Health NZ
• Influence system wide efficiency and sustainability for the future

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders. 

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations - from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities. 

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care. 

About the Role 

As Head of National People Services you'll oversee the heartbeat of our people – ensuring that the people systems, processes and services supporting over 80,000 employees run seamlessly and sustainably.

This role is part of the People & Culture Leadership Team, overseeing national services such as recruitment, online queries, advisory, payroll operations, transformation projects, people analytics, staff feedback, HR policies, and information systems.

In this role you will drive transformational initiatives in people services, improve quality, boost efficiency, and reduce costs to serve a complex national workforce.

This opportunity is suited for a leader who excels amid challenges, adeptly managing immediate operational needs while maintaining a strategic perspective for long-term success. Delivering meaningful change will require courage, clarity, and your exemplary leadership skills.

About you 

As the Head of National People Services, you will be responsible for leading the people systems and processes for one of New Zealand's most complex and essential workforces. This is a role where people, purpose and operations meet to create a sustainable workforce.

You will bring:

• Executive-level background in large, public-facing and multi-faceted environments with diverse stakeholder interests
• Proven leadership experience in HR, people and culture, or operational HR roles within large complex organisations
• Strong organisational and financial acumen and political awareness
• Track record of delivering strategic plans and implementing multi-layered operating models
• Proven experience in payroll and HRIS transformation
• Expertise in complex payroll and HR environments, including working with multiple collective agreements
• Experience leading large, diverse teams through major change in complex settings, delivering improved results
• Experience building relationships with unions and government agencies
• Previous experience in the public sector and/or health sector highly regarded

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.    

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by Sunday, 23 November. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Matt Kelly at matt.kelly@tewhatuora.govt.nz 

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.