Operations Specialist Communicable Disease - Protection - NPHS

• Support the national operational delivery of communicable disease functions across the National Public Health Service
• Use your operational, analytical and continuous improvement expertise to strengthen communicable disease processes, systems and responses
• 0.8 FTE fixed-term position until 24 October 2027, based at any Health NZ location

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 Operations Specialist – Communicable Disease, you will provide high-quality operational advice and support to strengthen the delivery of communicable disease functions across the National Public Health Service. You will contribute to complex work programmes, including case and contact management, disease responses, operational readiness, reporting and the development of national guidance, standard operating procedures and business rules.

Working collaboratively across Protection and with key internal and external partners, you will help improve systems, processes and data quality, identify operational pressure points and support practical solutions. You will bring a continuous improvement approach to the role, using data, technology and operational insights to support effective, consistent and equitable public health responses. The role also participates in an on-call roster.

About the Service

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) within Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora works towards Pae Ora (healthy futures) for all by engaging with the wider determinants that impact people's health, focusing on oranga/wellbeing, prevention, protection, and population-level intervention. We are connected across boundaries to deliver public health services that are nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored.

About you

You will be an experienced operational professional who is comfortable working in a complex and changing environment. You will combine strong analytical and problem-solving skills with sound judgement, attention to detail and the ability to turn complex information into practical operational solutions. You will be a collaborative communicator who can build trusted relationships and deliver high-quality work within competing priorities and timeframes.

You will bring:

• Previous experience in an operational environment, including developing and delivering operational tasks, processes and systems.
• Experience or an understanding of communicable disease and case and contact management within the National Public Health Service.
• Strong analytical and continuous improvement skills, with the ability to map processes, assess quality and identify opportunities to improve workflows and systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and relationship-management skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to a range of audiences.
• Strong technology capability, including the ability to become an advanced user of relevant systems, alongside sound judgement, risk awareness and the ability to manage priorities and deadlines.

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 Tuesday, 17 November 2026.  If you have any questions about the role, please contact Maria Bennett via maria.bennett1@tewhatuora.govt.nz