Principal Advisor - Office of the Executive Regional Director (Northern)

• Auckland based 
• Permanent, full time

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 Principal Advisor, you'll provide senior advice to align regional priorities and delivery, connecting community and whānau voice, alongside evidence and insights to support integrated planning, decisions and performance.

Reporting to the Regional Integration Team Lead, you'll deliver concise papers and collateral for senior leaders and governance forums, and support engagement with providers, consumers and whānau networks, and Māori and Pacific communities. You'll work closely with Hospital and Specialist Services, Planning, Funding and Outcomes, and other regional and national teams.

You'll help deliver agreed regional priorities and support performance monitoring and reporting, contributing to Pae Ora Act requirements (including the Code of Expectations).

Key Responsibilities

• Develop clear, well-analysed advice, briefings and reports for senior leaders and regional governance forums
• Build trusted relationships and support meaningful engagement with providers, partner agencies, and consumer/whānau networks, including Māori and Pacific communities
• Strengthen integration across services, regions and national teams, coordinating work programmes to remove barriers and enable consistent approaches
• Embed equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations in all aspects of advice, planning and engagement
• Model flexible, collaborative and values-based ways of working consistent with Te Mauri o Rongo, the New Zealand Health Charter.

About you

You're an experienced Principal Advisor who can operate confidently at senior levels, deliver crisp written advice, and bring structure to complex work. You use sound judgement, influence with credibility, and work collaboratively through change, grounded in equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Essential

• Significant experience providing senior-level advice in complex public sector or health environments
• Demonstrated strength in stakeholder and community engagement, including working with Māori and Pacific peoples
• Proven ability to work across organisational boundaries and balance multiple perspectives and priorities
• Strong systems thinking and adaptability, with confidence working across multiple portfolios to develop practical, equity-improving solutions

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience influencing senior leaders and governance groups

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, 12 April. 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.