Payroll Support Lead

Wellington | Full-time | Permanent

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

We have an exciting leadership opportunity for an experienced payroll professional to join our People & Culture team as a Payroll Support Lead.

Reporting to the Payroll Manager, Wellington, you will lead a team of payroll specialists and administrators, ensuring the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll services within a large and complex environment. You will oversee a broad range of payroll activities including pay run processing, organisational structure maintenance, employee transfers, leave buy-outs, reconciliations, third-party payments, and IR filing.

As the key quality assurance and compliance lead, you will ensure robust payroll controls are maintained, oversee payroll auditing requirements, manage operational risk, and support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance payroll service delivery. You will also play a critical role in developing team capability, managing escalated payroll issues, and providing insights that support operational performance and decision-making.

About the Team / Service / Location

Based in Wellington, you will lead a team of eight payroll professionals within the People & Culture function. Working closely with Payroll Managers, HR Business Partners, Finance, AskHR, and payroll teams across Health New Zealand, you'll help ensure payroll services are delivered efficiently, accurately, and consistently.

About You

You are a confident people leader who combines strong technical payroll expertise with a commitment to customer service, quality, and continuous improvement.

You will bring:

• Extensive people leadership experience.

• 10+ years' New Zealand payroll experience.

• At least five years' experience in a large, complex payroll environment.

• Advanced knowledge of payroll legislation, including the Holidays Act 2003, Employment Relations Act, Wages Protection Act, Parental Leave Act, and KiwiSaver legislation.

• Experience leading operational excellence, quality assurance, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.

• The ability to lead high-performing teams within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Experience within the health sector, alongside knowledge of AMS Leader and UKG Dimensions, will be highly advantageous.

Working at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Health New Zealand is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. Our people are at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome applications from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities, and religions.

A diverse and inclusive workforce enables us to better understand and serve our communities. We are a pro-equity organisation with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

How to Apply

To apply, please click"Apply Now." All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 11:59PM Wednesday 28th October 2026

For further information, please contact: Cherushka Pillay at cherushka.pillay@tewhatuora.govt.nz

The full position description is available on the Health New Zealand Careers site.

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