Director, HR Operations - Waikato, Taranaki at Te Whatu Ora, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Work across Taranaki & Waikato
• Fixed term or secondment until October 2026

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 

The role provides leadership to a team of HR Business Partners who deliver strategic human resource management advice and operational HR consulting services, supporting local Hospital and Specialist Services leadership. The role plans, directs, and coordinates the provision of human resource partnering and management advice across the group, ensuring the strategic use of human resources is maximised.

The role leads and oversees the implementation of HR strategies, policies, and programmes, and is responsible for delivering key HR projects aligned with the organisation's human resource strategies and plans. The role is part of the senior leadership team of the two districts it supports.

In addition, the role models effective HR and technical practices, fosters employee engagement, and ensures effective people management practices. The role also contributes to the development and delivery of the H&SS Delivery Support leadership team.

About you 

You are an experienced leader who thrives in complex, matrixed and adaptive environments. You are skilled at navigating ambiguity, influencing across multiple stakeholders, and driving outcomes within highly interconnected systems. You bring confidence and credibility when working in a highly unionised environment and are comfortable balancing organisational priorities with constructive employment relationships.

You have a strong, end-to-end P&C background across all core disciplines, including organisational development and change, and you apply a commercial lens to your work, consistently thinking in terms of whole-of-system value and sustainable outcomes. With a minimum of 10 years' experience in senior human resource management leadership roles, you have successfully led HR teams in complex and fast-paced environments and have a proven ability to deliver effective, high-quality people services.

You bring sound knowledge of relevant workforce legislation, including employment and health and safety requirements, and you understand how to apply this knowledge pragmatically in operational settings.

Ideally, you also have an understanding of the New Zealand health sector and the political, legislative, and external influences that shape it, enabling you to operate effectively within a public sector context.

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. 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 Sunday, 15 March . If you have any questions about the role, please contact Matt Kelly at matt.kelly@tewhatuora.govt.nz 

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.