Human Resource Business Partner - Counties

New Zealand Government; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora in Auckland seeks an experienced HR Business Partner to drive strategic People and Culture initiatives across a district. You will partner with senior leaders to shape policy, workforce planning, and employee relations in a large, public healthcare setting.

With 5–8 years in HRBP or generalist roles and a solid understanding of New Zealand employment law, you will navigate unionised environments and balance risk with strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–8 years in HRBP or HR Generalist roles in a complex organisation.
• Strong practical knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation.
• Experience within a complex and/or unionised environment is essential.
• Experience in the health sector is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic partner to the Business Unit and deliver P&C initiatives, practices and systems.
• Lead projects and transformational change across the district or service.
• Support implementation of strategic P&C projects to strengthen organisational capability.

Skills

HRBP experience

Stakeholder management

NZ employment law

Industrial relations

Job description

12-month fixed term, full time * District based – Counties 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 primary purpose of the role is to act as a strategic partner to the Business Unit, contributing to the overall success of the district, region, or function. This is achieved by working closely with senior leaders to deliver effective strategic People and Culture (P&C) initiatives, practices, and systems that align with business requirements and goals. The role works collaboratively with P&C specialists to ensure integrated service delivery, provides input into the design of strategic initiatives, and leads projects where required. The role also supports and assists with the implementation of strategic P&C projects, as well as broader transformational change across the district or service. This includes contributing to initiatives that strengthen organisational capability and enable effective, future-focused workforce outcomes. In addition, the role provides leadership to build sustainability, resilience, and meaningful culturally safe connections, capabilities, assets, and services, with the good of the New Zealand public health system in mind, both now and for the future.

About you

With a minimum of five to eight years' experience as an HR Business Partner or Generalist in a complex organisation, you bring strong practical knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation, along with solid employment and industrial relations experience. This enables confident navigation of complex people matters and the provision of sound, pragmatic advice. Comfortable making difficult and challenging decisions, you are able to balance risk with strategic priorities and contribute to achieving organisational goals and vision. You are an exceptional communicator who builds credible, proactive relationships with stakeholders and creates impact across all levels of an organisation. Experience within a complex and / or unionised environment is essential, along with an understanding of the dynamics this brings. Demonstrated knowledge of the New Zealand health sector will be highly regarded and considered an advantage.

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.