Principal Advisor - Strategy, Performance & Improvement

• Permanent Full-time role based anywhere across Aotearoa
• Provide expert strategic and planning advice to senior leaders, executives and governance groups
• The opportunity to work on nationally significant strategic priorities

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 a Principal Advisor – Strategy and Planning, you will play a key role in shaping and strengthening Health New Zealand's strategic planning and accountability framework. Working within the Strategy, Performance and Improvement business unit, you will provide trusted strategic advice to senior leaders, the Executive Leadership Team, Board and Ministers, helping to ensure organisational priorities are translated into clear, integrated and high-quality plans.

This is an opportunity to lead complex and nationally significant pieces of work that directly influence the future direction of healthcare delivery across Aotearoa New Zealand. You will lead and assure the development of key statutory planning and accountability documents, strengthen planning capability across the organisation, and support continuous improvement in planning systems, frameworks and processes. The role offers the opportunity to work across a wide range of stakeholders while contributing to better health outcomes for communities throughout New Zealand.

About the Team/Service

The Strategy and Planning team sits within the Strategy, Performance and Improvement business unit and plays a critical role in supporting organisational performance, accountability and strategic alignment across Health New Zealand. The team leads the development of major planning and accountability documents and works closely with leaders across the organisation to strengthen integrated planning and decision-making.

This is a collaborative, high-performing and future-focused team that values innovation, continuous improvement and strong relationships. The team is committed to building planning capability across Health NZ and supporting a consistent, system-wide approach to strategy and planning that aligns with Government priorities and improves outcomes for New Zealanders.

About you

As a Principal Advisor – Strategy and Planning, you will be an experienced strategic thinker with a strong background in complex advisory environments. You will bring excellent relationship management skills, sound judgement and the ability to influence at senior levels while delivering high-quality outcomes in fast-paced and evolving settings.

• Significant experience in senior strategy, planning or public sector advisory roles
• Strong understanding of government accountability, governance and statutory planning processes
• Experience providing strategic advice to Executive Leadership Teams, Boards or Ministers
• Proven ability to lead and deliver complex work programmes across large organisations
• Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated experience applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and an equity lens in your work
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capability
• Ability to mentor, coach and support capability development within teams and across organisations

Working at 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 11:59PM Thursday 21 May 2026. For further information, please contact Lynda Francis on Lynda.Francis@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.