Group Manager - Environmental Health, Border and Compliance - NPHS at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent Full-time role based anywhere across Aotearoa
• Lead nationally significant public health programmes that protect communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Be part of an organisation committed to equity, innovation and continuous improvement

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+ location, 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

This national leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering Environmental Health, Border and Compliance functions across NPHS.

You will lead a complex portfolio to deliver consistent, intelligence-informed and risk-based approaches across the National Public Health Service that:

• Reduce exposure to environmental and border-related public health risks
• Strengthen regulatory and compliance effectiveness
• Enable a cohesive, high-performing national public health service
• Improve system readiness and response across an all-hazards approach

You will provide direction, translate strategy into delivery, and ensure strong alignment across NPHS, Health New Zealand and wider system partners.

Working across government and with regional delivery teams, you will play a key role in building fit-for-purpose frameworks, tools and operating models that support consistent, high-quality public health practice

About the Team/Service

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) within Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, work 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 are a credible and values-driven senior leader with a passion for public health and system impact.

You will bring:

• Proven experience leading complex, multi-disciplinary functions at a senior level
• Strong strategic capability, with the ability to translate direction into delivery
• Deep understanding of regulatory, compliance or public health systems
• Experience working across agencies and influencing at a national level
• A commitment to advancing equity in outcomes
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style that enables high-performing teams

You will be known for your integrity, judgement and ability to lead through complexity—bringing people with you to achieve meaningful, system-wide improvement

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 Monday, 15 June 2026. For further information, please contact Maria Bennett on maria.bennett1@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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