Release Manager

• Work anywhere in New Zealand
• 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

The Release Manager plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth and successful deployment of software and product updates that meet quality standards, are delivered on time, and align with organisational goals. Working within a dynamic 24/7 services environment that supports users and business-critical applications across New Zealand, this role is central to maintaining the reliability and performance of our digital landscape. You will collaborate closely with Digital Services, development, QA, and platform teams to plan, coordinate, and execute releases efficiently while promoting best practice in release management. As a key advisor and leader within the Release Management capability, you'll champion continuous improvement, foster collaboration, and drive innovation to enhance service delivery, streamline processes, and ensure the best possible outcomes for our people and communities.

About the Team

The Release Management team is part of a dedicated Digital Services group that supports a 24/7 national technology environment spanning multiple critical systems and platforms. The team works collaboratively with development, QA, infrastructure, and platform specialists to ensure smooth, reliable, and high-quality software and product releases across New Zealand. We operate as a centre of excellence, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration to deliver seamless digital services that support the organisation's mission and the communities we serve.

About you

You are an experienced Release Manager who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments and takes pride in ensuring smooth, efficient, and high-quality software and product releases. With a strong background in release management, software delivery, and cross-functional collaboration, you bring both technical and strategic expertise to the role. You demonstrate sound judgment, clear communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring that releases align with organisational goals and deliver real value to users and communities. Grounded in integrity and inclusivity, you apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in your work and contribute to a culture of excellence and partnership.

• Proven experience managing complex software releases and coordinating across development, QA, and operations teams.
• Skilled in using release management tools such as Jira and Azure DevOps to plan, track, and deliver successful deployments.
• Strong understanding of Agile and Waterfall methodologies and their application in large-scale digital environments.
• Working knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) principles and cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure.
• Experienced in stakeholder engagement, fostering collaboration, and aligning technical delivery with organisational strategy and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.
• We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click "apply now." All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal before 11:59pm on Tuesday 25th of November. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Jayme Hellyer at

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