Head of Equity and System Influence

Plunket; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Whānau Āwhina Plunket invites applications for Head of Equity and System Influence. This full-time permanent role can be based anywhere across Aotearoa New Zealand.

You will provide strategic leadership across health equity, priority populations, advocacy and equity assurance. You will embed equity into planning, decisions, investment and service design, translate complex evidence into submissions and advice, and build strong relationships with government, iwi, and communities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading system-level or organisational change.
• Strong understanding of health equity and priority populations.
• Ability to translate evidence into practical insights and action.
• Experience developing advocacy strategies and policy submissions.
• Proven relationship management with Boards and government agencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice to the CEO and senior leaders on equity and outcomes.
• Lead organisation-wide approaches embedding equity into strategy and design.
• Identify barriers and develop evidence-based responses.
• Develop advocacy strategy and programme.
• Shape the organisation's national voice in child and whānau health.
• Translate trends and lived experiences into submissions and material.
• Build relationships with iwi, NGOs and sector partners.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team.

Skills

System equity strategy

Leadership

Policy submissions

Advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in public health/public policy

Job description

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is on a pro-equity journey, working to give life to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensure equitable health and wellbeing outcomes for all pēp i , tamariki and whānau.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We are looking for an accomplished Head of Equity and System Influence to provide strategic leadership across health equity, priority population outcomes, advocacy, equity intelligence and assurance. This is a full time permanent role that can be based anywhere across the country.

You will lead the development of the organisational systems, capability and ways of working needed to embed equity into how we plan, make decisions, invest, design and deliver services, measure impact and continuously improve.

This is a role for someone who can see the bigger picture while remaining closely involved in the work. You will bring together evidence, data, evaluation, lived experience and population insights to help us understand what is changing, what is making a meaningful difference, for whom and why and what we need to do next.

You will:

• Provide trusted strategic advice to the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team, Board and senior leaders on health equity, priority population outcomes and the equity implications of organisational decisions.
  
• Lead organisation wide approaches that embed equity into strategy, service design, transformation, workforce, digital, investment and performance.
  
• Identify systemic barriers to equity and work across the organisation to develop sustainable, evidence-based responses.
  
• Lead the development and delivery of our advocacy strategy and work programme.
  
• Strengthen Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s position as an influential voice and thought leader in child and whānau health and wellbeing.
• Translate complex evidence, emerging trends and lived experiences into compelling submissions, advice and advocacy material.
• Build meaningful relationships with government, iwi and Māori organisations, community and priority population partners, NGOs and others across the health and social sectors.
  
• Develop assurance and evaluation approaches that demonstrate progress against our Te Tiriti and equity commitments.
  
• Lead and develop a high performing team, building their capability, confidence and collective impact.

You will also bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in an area such as public health, social sciences, public policy or community development.
  
• Proven experience leading system level or organisational change.
  
• A strong understanding of equity and the systemic factors that influence outcomes for priority populations.
  
• Experience developing advocacy strategies, policy submissions, strategic advice or other influential written material.
  
• The ability to analyse evidence, data, trends and complex issues and translate these into practical insights and action.
  
• Strong relationship management skills and the credibility to engage effectively with Boards, executive leaders, government agencies, sector partners and communities.
  
• Experience leading, coaching and mentoring others and building capability across both a team and a wider organisation.
  
• A practical, hands on leadership style and the ability to maintain momentum through ambiguity and incomplete information.
  
• Experience within the health sector and an understanding of New Zealand’s machinery of government would be advantageous .
  

Above all, you will connect with our kaupapa and demonstrate the courage, humility and commitment required to advance equity and create meaningful change for pēpē , tamariki and whānau.

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is the largest service in Aotearoa supporting the health and wellbeing of tamariki under five and their whānau. We have the privilege of connecting with more than 80% of newborn pēp i , giving this role a unique opportunity to influence outcomes at both an organisational and national level.

You will join a purpose led organisation where your leadership, ideas and expertise can shape meaningful and sustainable change. You will work alongside committed leaders, kaimahi and sector partners who share a desire to improve outcomes and ensure the voices and experiences of whānau inform the decisions that affect them.

We have a number of Wellbeing programs including fitness Passport and Wellbeing Days.

Our values of Māia , Tūhono Manaaki and Māhaki guide how we work together. We are committed to creating an environment where people can contribute, grow and make a genuine difference.

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Setting the path of wellness in our communities for the early years, for generations to come

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of pēpi , tamariki and their wh ā nau/family. We have committed to adopting a pro-equity approach where we give life to the Treaty principles of tino rangatiratanga, partnership, active protection, equity and options in our mahi/work to ensure healthy tamariki , confident wh ā nau and connected communities. This journey is creating exciting career opportunities - If you would like to contribute to the important mahi we do, nau mai , haere mai .