About This Role
This senior enterprise leadership role focuses on the next phase of the company's organisational maturity, leading the People, Culture and Capability (PC&C) function. You will shape and deliver the People Strategy that underpins the organisational strategy, ensuring the company has the leadership, workforce capability, culture and operating model required to deliver its statutory responsibilities and strategic priorities. The role involves building a workplace where people have a great employee experience and are supported to do their best work, with a key focus on embedding a strong, values-based culture and leading people and capability dimensions of technological change, including the responsible use of AI.
Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver the People Strategy, ensuring alignment with NHC's strategic priorities and measurable impact on capability, culture and employee experience
- Lead capability, leadership development and workforce planning, ensuring NHC can attract, retain and grow a diverse, high-performing workforce that can scale to different events and priorities
- Foster a positive, inclusive culture and lift cultural confidence and competence across the organisation, including te ao Māori capability
- Lead the health, safety, security and wellbeing strategy and management system, ensuring critical risks are well understood, managed and reported
- Provide trusted, no-surprises advice to the Board, PCGC, Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team on material people risks, trends, decisions and emerging issues
- Modernise HR systems, processes and reporting – including through HR analytics and responsible use of AI – to enable data-driven people decisions and improved productivity
- Lead a high-performing PC&C team, setting clear expectations and building depth, credibility and service across the function
Requirements
- Track record of operating at executive level, with senior People and Culture leadership experience in complex organisations and the credibility, integrity and judgement required for sensitive, high-stakes matters
- Deep expertise across the full breadth of the people portfolio – including strategy, organisational development, culture, leadership development, employment relations, remuneration, workforce planning and health, safety and wellbeing
- Proven experience leading strategic people and culture initiatives that deliver measurable business outcomes and shaping culture and leadership capability in support of long-term organisational ambitions
- Experience working with Boards and board committees, including facilitating charter and work programme discussions, and supporting Chief Executive recruitment, performance, remuneration and succession matters
- Strong knowledge of employment and public sector legislation, with the ability to translate requirements into practical policy, systems and advice
- Relationship-based influencing style, with the ability to build trust with executives, senior leaders and governance stakeholders through clear advice, constructive challenge and reliable delivery
- Strong systems thinking and strategic judgement, with the ability to move confidently between operational detail and enterprise-level implications
- Experience leading through change, including growing high-performing PC&C teams and modernising systems, tools and reporting - including through data, analytics and responsible use of AI
- Tertiary qualification in business, HR or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
Nice to have:
- Senior public sector and/or insurance sector experience
Benefits
- 3.5% superannuation
- 5 weeks annual leave
- Commitment to personal development (Professional Development Fund)
- Hybrid working environment
- IT home bundle
- Wellbeing fund
- Access to inhouse Wellness Coach
Important Details
- Locations: Wellington or Christchurch, with regular travel between offices
- Application deadline: 3 August 2026 at 5:00pm
Application Process
- Ensure your CV and cover letter reflect your own voice and experiences
- Applications sent via email will not be accepted
- Apply early as applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the advertisement may close early
About the Company
Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake is an Aotearoa (NZ) Crown entity that invests in natural hazard research and education, and provides natural hazard insurance to residential property owners. Its mission is to reduce the impact on people and property when natural hazards occur, while administering the natural hazard fund. The company's values are Connection (hononga), Curiosity (māhirahira), and Confidence (māia).
