Principal Advisor, Portfolio Intelligence & Management Office

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 are looking for an experienced Principal Advisor to provide strategic leadership, expert advice and direction across the Portfolio Intelligence and Management Office. This is an influential role focused on strengthening the consistent, high-quality and efficient delivery of capital and infrastructure programmes across New Zealand.

You will provide expert advice across the processes and frameworks used for planning, design, delivery, commissioning and operational readiness for IIG projects. Working across complex delivery environments, you will be responsible for driving improvement activities in partnerships with a range of stakeholders across IIG and other Health NZ teams.

The role will contribute to delivery strategies, planning pathways and options analysis for major projects where there may be ambiguity, technical complexity or significant delivery risk. You will also help improve the quality, predictability and transparency of delivery by strengthening reporting, assurance, workflow management and integration across portfolios.

Partnering with national and regional teams, you will support the development of standardised and sustainable frameworks, tools and ways of working that lift organisational capability and ensure projects and programmes are positioned for success.

About the Team/Service/Location

The Infrastructure and Investment Group (IIG) is focused on supporting the delivery of high-impact infrastructure investments that contribute to the transformation of New Zealand's health system.

Working within the Portfolio Intelligence and Management Office, you will collaborate with colleagues across planning, delivery, commercial and procurement, asset management, digital, finance, risk and assurance, as well as clinical and operational teams. Together, these functions provide the intelligence, oversight and specialist advice required to support well-informed investment and delivery decisions.

This is a National Office position with relationships extending across regional delivery teams, central government agencies, professional advisors and infrastructure delivery partners.

About you

You are a highly experienced strategic advisor with a strong background in portfolio intelligence, major infrastructure delivery, capital projects or complex programme environments. Comfortable operating at a senior level, you can quickly understand complex issues, identify what matters most and provide clear, well-reasoned advice that supports confident decision-making.

You bring sound judgement and the ability to remain calm and solutions-focused when priorities shift or urgent issues arise. You are able to articulate advice in a manner that is clear, accurate and appropriate for senior governance and government audiences, and you are confident translating technical delivery information into practical insights and recommendations.

You know how to build trusted relationships across diverse teams, connect people and information, and encourage consistency while recognising different regional and operational contexts. You take pride in supporting and developing others, providing expert guidance and helping lift advisory, reporting and portfolio management capability across the organisation.

You will bring

• A relevant tertiary qualification.

• Significant experience in portfolio office teams, major infrastructure delivery, capital projects, programme advisory or systems-level delivery roles.

• Experience working with government agencies, regulated environments or large public-sector delivery programmes.

• Proven ability to provide high-quality, senior-level advice within complex delivery environments.

• Strong strategic analysis and problem-solving capability, with the ability to identify emerging delivery risks and opportunities.

• Strong experience in developing and improving delivery and planning processes and frameworks across complex and diverse groups

• Strong workflow management, planning and prioritisation skills.

• The ability to coach and provide technical guidance to advisors and other colleagues.

• Intermediate Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills.

• Postgraduate qualifications or formal certification in management, business, engineering, P3M, project management or infrastructure delivery methodologies would be advantageous.

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.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 13th October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Shannon Elder at shannon.elder@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.