Business Support Officer - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, Gisborne

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Based in Gisborne, Permanent Full-time
• Thrive in a fast-paced, professional environment where your initiative and high-quality work make a visible impact
• Join a collaborative team that values professionalism, trust, and your ability to get things done

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 a proactive senior administrative professional who excels at staying two steps ahead?

We are seeking a dedicated Business Support Officer to provide high-quality, executive-level support to our Regional Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) Director and the wider senior leadership team.

In this pivotal role, you will be the "engine room" of the senior leadership team. You will manage complex schedules, coordinate critical team operations, support various projects and handle sensitive information with total discretion. This isn't just about keeping things running; it's about foreshadowing business needs and building the systems that help our senior leadership team succeed.

As the primary point of contact for the Regional Director and their direct reports, you will:

• Provide Executive Support: Act as a gatekeeper and coordinator, managing complex diaries, drafting high-level correspondence, and ensuring the team is prepared for all engagements.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Manage the team's daily operations, from onboarding new staff and coordinating travel to processing invoices and managing office equipment.
• Coordinate Secretariat Duties: Lead meeting logistics, including room setup, catering, minute-taking, and tracking follow-up actions to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Foster Relationships: Act as a professional liaison between internal teams (HR, Finance, Communications) and external sector leaders and community health providers.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify ways to improve office policies, digital filing systems, and administrative workflows.
• Project coordination: Assist with project co-ordination as required, working with others to ensure all work is well planned, using appropriate project management tools and methods to achieve results

About Planning, Funding & Outcomes (PFO) – Te Manawa Taki

The PFO team is responsible for the commissioning of all funded NGO services across the Te Manawa Taki region, which spans Taranaki, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti. This role is based in Tairawhiti.

About you

You are a driven self-starter who excels in fast-paced environments and takes pride in delivering high-quality, accurate work. You approach challenges with a solutions-focused mindset and the confidence to make sound decisions. With strong interpersonal skills, you communicate clearly and credibly with senior leaders and external stakeholders, building trust and rapport with ease. Highly organised and adaptable, you manage competing priorities without losing attention to detail.

If you're looking to join a professional, collaborative environment where your organisational expertise directly enables leadership success and your contribution truly matters, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Experience: At least 3 years in a business support or executive assistant role, demonstrating the ability to multitask in complex environments.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and oral communication, with experience drafting formal reports and sensitive correspondence.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong skills in financial administration (invoices/reconciliation), diary management software, and project coordination tools.
• Discretion: A proven track record of handling highly confidential and sensitive information with integrity.
• Initiative: The ability to work autonomously, troubleshoot non-routine issues, and develop new procedures where gaps exist.

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 Monday, 09 February 2026. For further information,  please contact Nicola Ehau on nicola.ehau@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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.