Senior Advisor at Te Whatu Ora, Hawkes Bay

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent, full-time position based in Hawke's Bay.
• Play a key role in delivering regional communications that support better health outcomes.
• Work closely with regional leaders and national teams on high-impact initiatives.
• Be part of a collaborative, fast-paced environment where your ideas and expertise matter.

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 a Senior Advisor, you will support the development and lead the implementation of regional communication strategies and delivery that aligns with organisational priorities and helps improve health outcomes for communities.

You will provide high-quality communications advice to regional leaders and stakeholders, manage communication channels, events and engagement activities, and ensure messaging is clear, timely and effective. You will also identify and respond to risks, provide advice on mitigation, and continuously look for new and innovative ways to enhance communication approaches.

Working with the regional and national communications team, you will build strong relationships, contribute to a cohesive approach across the organisation, and ensure communications are informed by insights, data and community needs.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced communications professional to make a real difference to Hawke's Bay and the Central region. You'll help shape how Health New Zealand engages with communities, supports its people, and delivers clear, meaningful communication that drives better outcomes for whānau across Aotearoa.

About you

You are an experienced communications professional who is confident working in complex environments and enjoys building strong relationships to deliver great outcomes.

You will bring:

• A relevant qualification in communications, PR, journalism, marketing or a related field.
• Around five years' experience in a communications role.
• Experience contributing to communication strategies and leading their implementation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality content.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with sound judgement.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure.
• A strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to improving equity outcomes.

Experience in the public sector or health environment, and working in regional roles within national organisations, will be advantageous.

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 19 April 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.