Registrar

JacksonStone & Partners; Wellington; On-site; NZD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nursing Council of New Zealand is the statutory regulator responsible for ensuring nurses are competent and fit to practise, and for protecting the health and safety of the public through effective regulation of the nursing profession. Reporting to the incoming CEO, the Registrar will lead statutory decision-making, maintain the register, and oversee fitness to practise matters and hearings.

This pivotal role drives regulatory excellence and organisational transformation while upholding

Qualifications

• Proven Registrar, legal, health or regulatory leadership experience in a complex environment.
• Record of leading significant organisational transformation and system modernisation.
• Strong commitment to public safety and regulatory excellence.
• Rigorous, impartial judgement with fairness and integrity.
• Commitment to equity, cultural safety, and cultural competence.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement and credibility across diverse groups.
• Experience in strengthening organisational performance, accountability and culture.
• Excellent communication skills and political acumen.
• Appreciation of independent regulation and public accountability.
• Background in nursing or regulated health profession is advantageous but not essential; regulatory ability is key.

Responsibilities

• Lead statutory and regulatory decision-making and maintain the nurse register.
• Recommend scopes of practice and standards to Council.
• Issue practising certificates on time and oversee fitness to practise matters.
• Oversee quasi-judicial hearings and report to Council on statutory matters.
• Support CEO to align systems and processes for transformation and governance.
• Ensure public safety and regulatory excellence remain central to operations.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

Transformation leadership

Public safety focus

Stakeholder engagement

Integrity & ethics

Communication skills

Governance experience

Education

Tertiary qualification in law/health/regulation

Postgraduate qualification (advantage)

Job description

• Lead with integrity
• Deliver transformation
• Protect public safety

The Nursing Council of New Zealand is the statutory regulator responsible for ensuring nurses are competent and fit to practise, and for protecting the health and safety of the public through effective regulation of the nursing profession.

Council is seeking a Registrar who will be responsible for ensuring all statutory and regulatory decisions are lawful, robust and defensible under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act. A standalone Registrar reflects growth across the health workforce and signals the importance of this stand-alone role in contrast to the previously combined CEO/Registrar role.

The organisation is entering a pivotal period where public trust, regulatory excellence, and organisational transformation must go hand in hand. This role will appeal to an authentic and values-driven leader who can balance strategic change with the responsibility of leading one of New Zealand's most important regulatory bodies.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the incoming new CEO, the Registrar will lead the statutory and regulatory decision-making and maintain the register of nurses. The role involves recommending appropriate scopes of practice and standards to Council, issuing practising certificates on time, and overseeing fitness to practise matters and quasi-judicial hearings. There will also be a direct line to the Council on statutory matters.

As the Council embarks on an organisational reset under new governance and a new CEO, the Registrar will support the CEO to develop and align systems and processes to ensure the organisation and its regulatory functions remain fit for purpose, both now and into the future. Throughout this process, the focus will be on maintaining public safety, upholding regulatory excellence and sustaining stakeholder trust.

What You Will Bring

We are looking for a leader of exceptional character who is recognised for their integrity, sound judgement and unwavering commitment to ethical leadership.

• Proven Registrar, legal, health or regulatory leadership experience gained in a similar complex environment.
• A track record of successfully leading significant organisational transformation, change programmes and system modernisation initiatives.
• Strong focus and commitment to public safety.
• Rigorous, impartial judgement and a strong sense of fairness and integrity.
• Genuine commitment to equity and cultural safety and demonstrated cultural competence.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse groups.
• Experience in strengthening organisational performance, accountability and culture.
• Exceptional communication skills and political acumen.
• A deep appreciation of the importance of independent professional regulation and public accountability.
• A relevant tertiary qualification, for example in law, health, nursing or regulation; postgraduate qualifications an advantage.
• Strong working knowledge of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 or demonstrated ability to quickly master the required statutory framework.
• A background in nursing or another regulated health profession is advantageous but not essential; however, deep regulatory and decision-making capability is essential.

Most importantly, you will be a leader whose values align with the Council's purpose, demonstrating courage, transparency, integrity and a genuine commitment to serving the public interest.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to join an organisation with a vital role in protecting the health and safety of New Zealanders and supporting confidence in one of the country's most trusted professions.

You will join the Council at a defining point in its journey, with the opportunity to shape its future direction, strengthen its effectiveness, and leave a lasting legacy for the nursing profession and the communities it serves.

If you are an experienced and principled leader who is motivated by purpose, accountability and transformation, we would welcome your application.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Monday 23 November 2026

REFERENCE: BH-11837

FURTHER ENQUIRIES: Ben Stevensonon 021 101 5480 or Simon Boyes on 021 844 675