• Permanent, full time
• Auckland or Wellington based

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

Are you wanting to make a difference in growing and supporting the health and disability workforce?

The primary purpose of the role is to lead and/or support the development and delivery of health workforce initiatives to ensure our health and disability system has the right people with the right skills, in the right place at the right time to meet the changing and increasingly complex health needs of New Zealanders now and in the future.

The success of our Health Workforce Plan relies on effective planning, development, implementation and support. The Senior Advisor will be responsible for leading and supporting the translations of operational policy into initiatives and programmes of work, providing oversight and input into their delivery, support and monitoring. The Senior Advisor will need to manage multiple workstreams and work within prescribed timeframes.

As Senior Advisor the role also includes robust reporting, ministerial servicing (Briefings, Ministerial, direct responses) support for OIAs/ Workplans and other Programme updates and/or meeting requests.

The role is supported by a wider group of dynamic people throughout the country who love a challenge, work together and integrate across work programmes.

About you

As a Senior Advisor you are confident working in a fast-paced environment and getting ‘stuck in' across a range of work. You have proven experience in an advisory role, applying critical thinking and using sound judgement to develop options and provide advice along with some operational delivery aspects.

You bring advanced analytical and technical skills, with the ability to collect, interpret, and translate raw data into meaningful insights that drive effective workforce planning. You think critically, use sound judgement, and confidently turn advice into practical action.

You're comfortable operating in ambiguity, forming clear, well-reasoned positions even when the path forward isn't obvious. Your experience includes developing and advising on complex planning that supports the successful delivery of key initiatives.

You understand how the public sector works and have experience providing advice within government settings, including to Ministers. You're a trusted advisor who communicates clearly, navigates complexity, and contributes to system-level improvements across the workforce landscape.

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, 2 December. 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.