- Hamilton based
- 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 Communications Director is the principal strategic communications adviser to the Executive Regional Director.

The role supports the Executive Regional Director to operate effectively in a complex, fast-moving and highly scrutinised environment. It provides trusted communications advice, anticipates emerging issues, connects relevant people and information, and ensures the Executive Regional Director receives timely, accurate and appropriately risk-assessed material.

The Communications Director leads the coordination of strategic communications, ministerial servicing, executive briefings, official information, media issues, regional engagement, reporting inputs, and other priority work requiring the Executive Regional Director's oversight or approval.

The role functions as a central point of coordination for the Executive Regional Director's Office.



It maintains visibility of significant requests, deadlines, risks, and decisions, while working with the relevant functional teams that retain professional or operational ownership of the underlying work.

The Communications Director works with teams across the five Te Manawa Taki districts and with regional and national teams to support consistent, coordinated, and high-quality advice. The role builds trusted relationships with Group Directors Operations, senior clinical and professional leaders, Government Services, communications and media teams, legal advisers, Planning, Funding and Outcomes, Hauora Māori Services, the National Public Health Service, and other enabling functions.

This is a senior leadership role that is a member of the regional Te Manawa Taki senior Leadership team.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health Recent 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.

This role is open to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora employees only.

📌 Communications Director, Executive Regional Director's Office - Te Manawa Taki (Canada)
🏢 Health New Zealand | Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
📍 Canada