Principal Advisor, Briefings at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

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

We're looking for a Principal Advisor - Briefings to provide senior-level advisory leadership and help ensure decision makers receive clear, accurate and high-quality advice on some of New Zealand's most significant health infrastructure initiatives.

This Principal Advisor position is responsible for leading the preparation of high-quality infrastructure and investment advice for senior leaders, executives and Ministers. You will draft complex and sensitive briefings, review advice prepared by others and ensure all outputs are clear, evidence-based and aligned with organisational priorities.

Working across a broad range of projects and programmes, you will bring together information from multiple sources, translate technical material into compelling narratives and provide recommendations that support informed decision making.

This role offers the opportunity to work on issues of national importance while contributing to infrastructure investments that support better healthcare outcomes for New Zealand communities.

About the Team/Service/Location

The IIG team are focused on delivering high impact infrastructure investments that support the transformation of New Zealand's health system.

Giving support, oversight and assurance across asset management, asset maintenace projects and programmes, the team understand that compliant, safe, fit for purpose health facilities, sites and equipment are essential for a well-functioning health system that improves the health of all New Zealanders.

About you

You are an experienced principal level advisor who thrives in complex and fast-paced environments. You have a talent for turning large amounts of information into clear, concise and decision ready advice, even when dealing with ambiguity, competing priorities and tight timeframes.

You bring strong strategic thinking, sound judgement and a keen eye for detail. You are comfortable working with senior leaders and have the confidence to challenge thinking, identify risks, and help shape organisational positions on complex issues.

You thrive on collaborating with others, building trusted relationships, mentoring others, and contributing to work that has organisation-wide impact, helping influence decisions that improve healthcare services and outcomes for patients, whānau and communities across New Zealand.

You will bring

• A relevant graduate qualification.
• Significant experience operating at a Principal Advisor, Principal Analyst or similar senior advisory level.
• Proven experience producing high-quality briefings, reports, ministerial papers or strategic advice.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build trusted relationships across complex organisations.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling way.
• Strong strategic thinking, financial literacy, risk awareness and decision-making capability.
• Experience working across multiple workstreams and delivering to tight deadlines.
• The ability to influence outcomes through credibility, sound advice and effective communication.
• Strong judgement and the ability to navigate ambiguity and organisational complexity.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality outcomes.

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.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 23rd October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Shannon Elder at shannon.elder@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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