Regional Health & Safety Manager, Central

Job Description

Permanent, full-time leadership role with significant regional scope, providing strategic health and safety leadership across a complex, multi-site organisation. High-impact senior position partnering with executive leaders to shape health and safety strategy, culture, governance and performance across the region. 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. The Central Region (Te Ikaroa) has approximately 20,000 employees providing health services to our communities through district, regional and some national services. The region stretches from Hawkes Bay and Whanganui in the north, Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast to the west, Palmerston North in the centre, Wairarapa to the east, and Hutt Valley and Wellington to the south. Our region is sparsely populated with most of the population clustered in urban areas: Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wellington. About the Role We are seeking an experienced and strategic Regional Health and Safety Manager to lead the delivery of health and safety services across the Region. Reporting to the Executive Regional Director, with a dotted reporting line to the Group Manager, Health and Safety, this key leadership role provides expert advice and strategic partnership to regional leaders to support their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. You will lead the regional health and safety function, ensuring consistent, high-quality health and safety practices, governance, assurance, and operational delivery across multiple districts, services, and sites. You will drive regional health and safety priorities, build organisational capability, strengthen worker engagement, and foster a culture where health and safety is owned by everyone. This role also plays an important part in shaping and implementing national health and safety strategies, programmes, systems, and initiatives. About the Service As part of the Health and Safety function within People and Culture, you will lead a team of District Health and Safety Delivery Managers and work in close partnership with Executive Regional Directors, Occupational Health leaders, Infrastructure and Investment Group leaders, and national Health and Safety teams. You will also engage with key external stakeholders including WorkSafe, ACC, professional bodies, and union partners. About you You are a seasoned health and safety leader with significant experience operating in large, complex environments. You bring a strategic mindset, strong leadership capability, and the ability to influence at senior levels while building highly effective relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. You will bring: A tertiary qualification in Health and Safety or a related discipline, supported by relevant graduate and postgraduate qualifications 10+ years' experience in senior health and safety leadership roles within large, complex, public-facing organisations Proven success leading diverse teams and delivering measurable improvements in health and safety performance Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, governance, assurance, risk management, and contractor management systems Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills Experience working within the public sector and / or healthcare environments is highly desirable 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr