Deputy Chief Executive - Operations at NZ WorkSafe, All Office Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Mo tatou - About Us 

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people. 

Ka noho mātāmua te orangatonutanga o te tangata ki a mātou o Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa. Ko te aronga matua kia haere haumaru ngā tāngata katoa ki te mahi, kia hoki haumaru ki te te kāinga. Inā ka ngākaunui koe ki ēnei āhuatanga, tomo mai ki tēnei whare whakaruruhau. 

WorkSafe New Zealand/ Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa is the primary workplace health and safety regulator – our vision is that everyone who goes to work comes home healthy and safe.  Our kaimahi are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Mātāpono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do:   

• Whakakotahi – we're united in a strong purpose
• Kōrero mai – we engage meaningfully
• Tiakina mai – we're entrusted with a duty of care. 

We offer a range of benefits, including: 

• Free life insurance
• Discounts on health insurance and eye care
• Five weeks of annual leave
• 15 days of sick leave
• Learning and professional development opportunities 

Ko te tīma - About your team

We're looking for an experienced and transformational leader to join our organisation as the Deputy Chief Executive – Operations. This role sits within WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru's Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for leading and integrating frontline operations, regulatory support, permitting, and legal functions. 

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will oversee a large workforce and be instrumental in shaping the future of WorkSafe's operational delivery, ensuring consistency, accountability, and strategic alignment across all functions. 

Ko tōu ake mahi - What You'll Do  

As Deputy Chief Executive – Operations, you will:

• Lead a team of circa 350 professionals across frontline operations, permitting, legal, and regulatory support functions.
• Drive strategic alignment, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement in operational delivery.
• Inspire and unify teams, fostering a culture of engagement, trust, and high performance.
• Strengthen relationships with government agencies, industry, and regulated communities to enhance WorkSafe's effectiveness.
• Provide oversight of high-risk permitting regimes, improving frameworks to ensure efficiency, safety, and compliance.
• Lead regulatory services, including enforcement, legal strategy, and frontline engagement, ensuring fair and proportionate interventions. 

Ko ngā pukenga ōu - What you'll bring

We are looking for a courageous and strategic leader with a deep understanding of regulatory environments, service delivery, and transformational change. You will bring: 

• Significant executive leadership experience within a large, complex organisation.
• A track record of delivering results in operational service delivery, risk-based regulation, and compliance.
• The ability to drive cultural change, inspire teams, and build an engaged, high-performing workforce.
• Strong political and commercial acumen, with the ability to navigate complex government and industry landscapes.
• Experience in health and safety, regulatory leadership, or legal enforcement would be desirable. 

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive. 

Awhe utu - Salary range

As part of our remuneration framework, the full salary range for this position is from $272,000 to $360,000. Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contributions are additional to your base salary. 

This role also offers flexibility in location. 

Me pēhea te tono - How to apply

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life. We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.

Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you.

We are committed to ensuring impacted kaimahi are given first preference for roles being recruited.

To apply online, please apply through the Seek link provided. Applications close on Friday 28^th March 2025. We will be assessing applicants as applications are received, so we encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.  

To discuss this opportunity in confidence, please contact Dale Gray (dale@inside.co.nz) or Jeremy McLeod (jeremy@inside.co.nz).