Research Lead, Sector Digital Channels, Data and

Join Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora at a key time of change where you will meaningfully contribute to our kaupapa of creating a more equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred health system. This is mahi that will improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Aotearoa, and we've got an opportunity for you to be part of it.

**Te whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity**

The Design Research Lead role will define and lead our research approach, capturing valuable and actionable insights, informing the design and delivery of the best possible experiences for health consumers and whānau. You will bring best practice research processes to ensure our research is undertaken safely and responsibility.

This is a leadership role within our Design Practice with responsibilities for supporting nationally significant products and services and influencing key stakeholders within Te Whatu Ora and the wider health system.

Design and Channels are responsible for the design and delivery of our consumer facing digital products used by millions in Aotearoa. We aspire to create products that are accessible to the broadest consumer audience and that our services are consistent across the channels we provide to support equitable access. Our Design Practice champions the needs of health consumers and whānau, utilising human-centred design practices to recommend solutions that deliver an equitable, efficient and best possible consumer experience across our available service channels.

Our Sector Digital Channels team are working to expand and improve the digital health landscape in Aotearoa. We are the digital transformation partners enabling modern technology solutions that improve the people and whānau experience through equitable access to varying models of care.

We are the change agent for national programmes and work with our customers and partners to enable equitable access through both digital self-service and assisted channels and to reduce pressure on the workforce through automation and integration. We are product focused and leverage modern platforms, technologies and ways of working to deliver quality, sustainable and cost-effective products and services.

We take pride in leading change that will provide equitable digital solutions for the health of Aotearoa.

**Mōu | About you**

As the Research Lead, we'll look to you to set the strategic direction of Design Research as a discipline within the Design Practice. We also expect you to lead the discovery of meaningful and actionable quantitative and qualitative insights about people, whānau, and communities. With the intention of informing the creation or modification of our services, experiences, and interfaces, so that they better serve communities and contribute to equitable health outcomes.

You'll have extensive experience working with communities to research in a way which is mana-enhancing and culturally responsive. This could be a specialism in kaupapa Māori research, Pacific research methodologies, co-design, or related fields.

You'll be someone driven to do great work, you'll care as much about the big picture as you do the details. You'll be someone that brings wairuatanga, the ability to work with heart, and whanaungatanga, to work as a team for the greater good.

**Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience**
- **A minimum of 15 years' experience** in Design Research or related roles, within large organisations across the public and private sector. Extensive experience in the health sector and government is essential.
- **Design Research** - an excellent understanding of the fundamentals of Design Research as a discipline and how it is used to create business and customer value.
- **Pae Ora and Te Tiriti o Waitangi** - can evidence an understanding of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the significance, and obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to give effect to these expectations in a meaningful way, and the commitments to equity and priorities of Wai2575. Have an appreciation of cross-cultural matters, including knowledge of tikanga Māori (or a willingness to learn).
- **Communication & relationship effectiveness **- you demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to write and present in a clear, persuasive, and impactful way, to influence others to embrace change, and to develop, unify and maintain strong internal and external relationships essential for achieving sustainable outcomes.

**Ka kawea e koe | You will bring**:

- Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth.

**Ko te mahi e tika ana mō te ao hurihuri nei | Work that suits today's ever-changing world**

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora supports flexible and hybrid working for our kaimahi. In roles that don't require an in-person element, we encourage you to ‘work from where you are.' We want our national team