Principal Advisor

• Contribute to transforming the future of health in this Principal Advisor role
• Location: National
• Permanent, Full-Time

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

We have the opportunity available to join the National Public Health Service (NPHS) Intelligence Directorate as a Principal Advisor - Screening. This is a permanent, full-time role.

Principal Advisors are senior advisory roles in Health NZ, with strong subject matter expertise, writing and relationship skills and capable of leading a portfolio of work. In this role you will play a leading role in the development of advice in public health intelligence, supporting the NPHS Intelligence Directorate, and the wider Health NZ Screening programmes. Health NZ provides bowel, breast, cervical, pregnancy and newborn health screening programmes across Aotearoa New Zealand. You will also provide leadership, oversight and direction on key pieces of work and to ensure the delivery of quality advice in areas of expertise across the team to ensure we apply best practice methodology primarily to the Screening programmes of work. Intelligence also provides insights on the surveillance of communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental and other hazards, risk factors, determinants of health, and our preventive care services.

About the Team/Service/ Location

The NPHS within Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, work towards Pae Ora (healthy futures) for all by engaging with the wider determinants that impact people's health, focusing on oranga/wellbeing, prevention, protection, and population-level intervention. We are connected across boundaries to deliver public health services that are nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored.

About you

As a Principal Advisor, you are confident working in a fast-paced environment and getting 'stuck in' with a range of work. You will have a strong eye for detail and quality, the ability to quickly understand new information, manage a broad range of work, write for a broad range of audiences, prioritise well and keep key players informed. You will be a natural problem solver, have good political nous and understand the healthcare ecosystem. Due to the wide-ranging nature of the work in this role, a varied background is welcome.

• A relevant graduate and post-graduate qualification
• Experience in implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action
• A relevant tertiary qualification, or equivalent experience (e.g. public health, epidemiology, informatics)
• Needs to draw on extensive specialised work experience typically supported with professional qualifications –– years
• Be a present, visible team player, committed to foster an in-person (where feasible) environment and culture
• Experience in applying critical thinking and using sound judgement to develop options and provide advice, particularly in leading complex or contentious policy work

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.

How to Apply

To apply please click "apply now".All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by Wednesday 29 October 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Anesha Pillay

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.