Principal Advisor Office of the Executive Regional Director, Northern at Te Whatu Ora, Auckland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Provide strategic advice and analysis to support regional health priorities and decision-making.
• Work with senior leaders and stakeholders across regional and national teams.
• Help drive system-wide improvements and equitable health outcomes for our communities.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to more than 5 million people. With services spanning more than 80 locations, we are committed to building a health system that is accessible, equitable and focused on better outcomes for all New Zealanders.

About the role

Based within the Office of the Executive Regional Director (ERD), Northern, you'll report to the Team Lead and play an important role in supporting regional governance, planning and decision-making. The role will be based at one of our Northern region offices, with a preference for Manukau or Takapuna.

You'll provide high-quality advice, analysis and reporting to senior leaders and governance groups, helping ensure regional priorities are aligned with national direction and the wider health system. Working collaboratively across Health NZ, you'll help identify challenges, respond to emerging pressures and support initiatives that improve health service delivery and outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of clear, well-researched advice, briefings and reports for senior leadership and governance groups.
• Monitoring and analysing regional performance, identifying emerging issues, opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Supporting the planning and delivery of key regional programmes of work in partnership with Hospital and Specialist Services, Planning, Funding and Outcomes teams.
• Building strong relationships across regional and national teams to support aligned strategies and consistent decision-making.
• Providing regional insights and advice to inform national strategies and delivery priorities.
• Promoting a system-wide approach to improving health outcomes, with a strong focus on equity and Māori health gain.

This is an opportunity to contribute to important regional work, influence decision-making and help shape a more connected, equitable and sustainable health system.

About you

You'll be an experienced strategic advisor with strong analytical, planning and relationship management skills. You're comfortable working across complex programmes of work, engaging with senior stakeholders and turning complex information into clear, practical advice that supports good decision-making.

What you'll bring to the role

• Experience leading or contributing to complex work programmes, including project planning and delivery within agreed timeframes and budgets.
• Strong governance, reporting and analytical skills, with the ability to assess performance, identify risks and recommend solutions.
• Proven experience building and influencing relationships and partnerships across organisations and sectors, including with Māori and Pacific communities.
• Strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to anticipate challenges and develop collaborative, forward-looking solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present compelling advice to senior leaders and a range of audiences.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, organise work effectively and take responsibility for delivering outcomes.
• Experience working collaboratively across teams and organisations to achieve shared objectives.
• A tertiary or professional qualification in a relevant field, or equivalent experience.
• A demonstrated understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how its principles can be meaningfully applied in your work.

Experience putting Te Tiriti o Waitangi into practice and supporting Māori-led approaches to improving health outcomes would be an advantage.

Why join us?

This is a great opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that supports the future of healthcare across the Northern region. You'll work alongside experienced leaders and colleagues, helping shape regional priorities and deliver better outcomes for communities.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to delivering excellent healthcare for all New Zealanders. We embrace diversity and inclusion so that our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

We're also committed to creating an environment where people can bring their ideas, challenge the way things are done and continuously improve how we work.

How to Apply

To apply, please click ‘Apply now'.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 11:59PM on Wednesday, 18 November 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Ash Mohan at ash.mohan@tehwatuora.govt.nz