Group Manager Internal, Stakeholder & Project Communications at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent, full-time position based anywhere in New Zealand.
• A leading communications role in New Zealand's largest organisation and workforce.
• Part of a senior leadership team where your expertise will be used to manage and improve the channels that inform our people, shape how we tell our stories, manage our reputation and support better health outcomes for New Zealanders.

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 the Group Manager – Internal, Stakeholder & Project Communications, you'll lead the strategy and delivery of internal, stakeholder, and project communications across one of the most complex and visible organisations in New Zealand. Reporting to the Chief Communications and Government Services Officer, you'll act as a trusted senior advisor and play a key leadership role in shaping how Health New Zealand communicates with its workforce, stakeholders, Ministers' offices, and the wider public sector.

This is a highly strategic and fast-paced role where you'll lead a team of communications professionals delivering communications for significant and often sensitive organisational priorities and projects. You'll work with the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team, and senior leaders to provide expert advice, manage communications risk, and support high-profile initiatives and organisational transformation. You'll strengthen internal communications channels and reach, support national stakeholder engagement, help manage communications to respond to key projects and emergency responses, and be part of shaping a collaborative, high-performing culture across the wider Communications & Engagement function. Your ability to navigate complexity, build trusted relationships, and provide calm, strategic leadership through change will be critical to success.

About you

As an experienced communications leader, you'll bring strong strategic capability, political awareness, and the ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

• Extensive senior communications and stakeholder engagement experience within large, complex, or high-profile organisations.
• Proven leadership experience, including building and developing high-performing teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide strategic advice to executive leaders and Ministers' offices.
• Strong understanding of risk management, issues management, and communications within politically sensitive environments.
• The ability to build trusted relationships, influence outcomes, and lead through organisational change and transformation.

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 Sunday 14 June 2026. For further information, please contact Nicole Rickard on Nicole.Rickard@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

The full position description is available on the Health New Zealand Careers site.

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.