Principal Advisor Engineering - Seismic

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora; Wellington; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a Principal Advisor Engineering - Seismic to ensure seismic risks across the property portfolio are understood, managed and mitigated. You will provide technical advice, oversee design guidance and lead initiatives to strengthen hospital resilience at a national level.

Reporting to the Head of Asset Management, the role collaborates with Seismic Trusted Advisor and regional teams to deliver evidence-based decisions and robust infrastructure strategies

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in structural engineering.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status (CPEng or equivalent).
• 8+ years' structural engineering experience with a focus on seismic design.
• 5+ years' experience in structural design and risk-based design in NZ.
• Strong knowledge of NZ building codes and seismic standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist seismic and structural guidance for a national portfolio.
• Oversee policy guidance, assessments and strengthening design.
• Translate complex engineering issues into clear reports for senior leaders.
• Lead seismic design guidance updates, data oversight and master planning.
• Coordinate post-earthquake arrangements with emergency management and hospitals.

Skills

Seismic design

Structural engineering

Policy guidance

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

BE(Hons) structural engineering

Chartered professional engineer

Job description

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Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora – Wellington Central, North Island

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

As Principal Advisor Engineering - Seismic, you will be helping to ensure seismic risks across our property portfolio are effectively understood, managed and mitigated. Reporting to the Head of Asset Management, this national role provides specialist structural engineering advice and oversight to strengthen the resilience of hospital buildings and support safe, informed infrastructure decisions.

Working alongside Health New Zealand's Seismic Trusted Advisor, regional infrastructure teams and major project delivery teams, you will provide technical advice on policy, structural and geotechnical guidance, seismic assessments and strengthening design. You will also oversee post-earthquake arrangements in partnership with emergency management teams and hospitals.

The role will lead updates to seismic and structural design guidance, monitor how requirements are applied, support design assurance and master planning, and maintain oversight of data and building risk information. You will translate complex engineering matters into clear advice and reporting for senior leaders, governance groups and other stakeholders.

This is an opportunity to influence seismic resilience at a national level and help shape practical, evidence-based solutions for one of New Zealand's most significant property portfolios.

About the Team/Service/Location

The Infrastructure and Investment Group (IIG) is focused on delivering high-impact infrastructure investment that supports the transformation of New Zealand's health system.

Providing support, oversight and assurance across projects and programmes, the team recognises that safe, fit-for-purpose health facilities, sites and equipment are essential to a well-functioning health system. This is a national role, working across regional and national teams and with a broad range of internal and external technical stakeholders.

About you

You are an experienced structural engineer with technical knowledge of seismic design, risk-based design requirements and New Zealand's building and seismic standards. You can apply sound engineering judgement to complex issues, identify practical solutions and provide credible advice that supports organisational and system level decision making.

You are comfortable operating across a large and complex environment, you can build trusted relationships with technical specialists, regional leaders, consultants, contractors and project teams.

You bring a practical, collaborative approach and can balance strategic oversight with hands on technical input. Strong planning, personal accountability and the ability to lead multidisciplinary work will help you progress priorities, manage risk and deliver fit-for-purpose outcomes.

You will Bring:

• A Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BE(Hons) degree in structural engineering.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status (CPEng or equivalent).
• 8 + years' structural engineering experience, with a strong focus on seismic design and demonstrated knowledge of New Zealand seismic legislation.
• At least five years' technical experience and knowledge of structural design and risk-based design requirements in New Zealand.
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand building codes and seismic design standards.
• Experience providing technical advice on seismic policy, engineering guidance, assessments or strengthening design.
• The ability to use data and insights to identify trends, risks and opportunities and support evidence-based decisions.
• Proven experience leading, influencing and building credibility across a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to explain complex technical information clearly.

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.