Principal Advisor

• Contribute to transforming the future of health in this Principal Advisor role
• Location: Auckland or Wellington
• Full time, fixed term for 6 months

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) Business Services Directorate as a Principal Advisor in the Purchasing and Contracting team. This is a fixed term, full-time role.

The Principal Advisor will provide operational and strategic advice on matters relating to funding, commissioning and procurement to senior leaders in the National Public Health Service. They will be familiar with commissioning models, and application of the NZ Government Procurement Rules, related policies, procedures and templates. The role also requires an ability to interpret and manage financial information, provide analysis and write high quality papers relating to purchasing, funding and contracts for decision-makers

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 funding, contracting and procurement within a health context.

• A relevant tertiary qualification, or equivalent experience (e.g. Law, Finance, or Business)
• Health system experience (service planning and funding)
• Extensive experience in an advisory role, applying critical thinking and using sound judgement to develop options and provide advice
• Extensive experience in procurement, purchasing and contracting, including in providing advice and analysis in a health context
• Extensive experience developing high quality written advice to senior decision makers, ensuring advice, options, risks and next steps are clearly communicated, and decision making is able to occur on a no surprise basis
• Extensive experience with developing and managing excel spreadsheets and using it to inform analysis and advice
• Strong analytical skills combined with an ability to quickly assimilate new information, and to write and talk about complex issues clearly and concisely with a range of audiences

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 Thursday, 11 December 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.