Principal Advisor Business Communications (RHRP)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora seeks a Principal Advisor, Business Communications, to lead stakeholder engagement for the Regional Hospital Redevelopment Programme across Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay and Tauranga.

You will shape strategies, translate complex information for diverse audiences and work with regional and national teams to ensure clear, coordinated communications that support programme delivery.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years' experience in a senior communications role, including public sector experience.
• Ability to develop and oversee communications strategies and work plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead communications and stakeholder engagement for the Regional Hospital Redevelopment Programme across Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay and Tauranga.
• Shape communications strategies to support project delivery and keep communities informed.
• Manage communications risks and provide strategic advice for programme delivery.

Skills

Strategic communications

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector experience

Risk management

Written and verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Public relations / communications / journalism / marketing degree

Job description

Principal Advisor Business Communications (RHRP)

• Lead communications and stakeholder engagement for the Regional Hospital Redevelopment Programme, which will help to meet the healthcare needs of our communities in Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay and Tauranga.
• Help shape communications strategies that support successful project delivery across the three sites, and keep communities and stakeholders informed.
• Work with local, regional and national teams to manage communications risks and support better outcomes for our health services.

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

You’ll play a key role in communications and stakeholder engagement for the Regional Hospital Redevelopment Programme, initially working across the three hospital sites of Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay and Tauranga. As the programme progresses and delivery activity increases, the role is expected to evolve to have a more dedicated focus on one of the three sites. This is an exciting multi-site infrastructure delivery programme which will help to support growing demand for our health services and provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities around the North Island.

Working closely with the project teams, you’ll help ensure communications are clear, coordinated and aligned with local needs and Health New Zealand’s broader priorities.

You’ll develop and implement communications and engagement strategies, build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and create engaging communications materials for a range of audiences. This includes translating complex technical information into clear, accessible content, and finding effective ways to keep stakeholders informed and involved.

You’ll also help identify and manage communications risks, including media-related issues, and provide advice to support programme delivery and meet the needs of local communities. Working closely with regional and national communications colleagues, infrastructure teams, service providers and community stakeholders, you’ll encourage a consistent and collaborative approach to the programme and across the three sites.

This is an opportunity to use your strategic communications expertise in a complex environment, contributing to the delivery of health services for New Zealand’s communities. Ideally, this role will be based in one of the three locations that this redevelopment programme touches. Over time, it is likely that this role will become more site‑specific as infrastructure delivery ramps up across each of the three sites as the delivery programme progresses.

About you

You’re an experienced communications professional who can provide sound strategic advice, navigate complex stakeholder environments and turn complicated information into clear, effective communications. You’re confident working across multidisciplinary teams, building trusted relationships and adapting your approach to suit different audiences.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification, preferably in public relations, communications, journalism or marketing.
• Approximately 7–10 years' experience in a senior communications role, including public sector experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and overseeing communications strategies and work plans that deliver on objectives.
• Experience working in complex environments where relationship management and sound advice are essential.
• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to coordinate communications activities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to a range of audiences.
• An understanding of the public sector and the machinery of Government.

Experience in a regional role within a national organisation, infrastructure communications, complex programmes of work, or event management would be advantageous. Project management or engagement accreditations, such as PRINCE2 or IAP2, would also be beneficial.

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.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.

Job details

Job Reference:

Job Reference: HNZ/1953752

Location:

North Island - Hawkes Bay - All values

North Island - Manawatu / Whanganui - Palmerston North

North Island - Bay of Plenty - Tauranga

Job type:

Job type: Permanent Full time

Expertise:

Non-clinical - Communications and Marketing - Communications and Marketing