Change Manager

• Strong focus on trust, active listening and Māori data sovereignty
• Must be Northland based
• Regional travel involved

We’re recruiting an experienced Change Manager to join a significant health data programme responding to recommendations arising from a high-profile data breach.

This is a highly stakeholder-focused role where success will be less about traditional change delivery and more about engagement, listening and building trusted relationships with iwi and communities impacted by the programme.

About the role
Working as part of a wider programme team, you’ll lead the change and engagement approach across Northland, helping ensure local iwi and affected communities are genuinely involved as the programme moves forward.

The wider programme has a significant governance, privacy, security and data component, including future changes to how clinical information is securely shared between health providers. Given the history and sensitivity surrounding the programme, the way change is approached will be critical.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading engagement with local iwi and key community stakeholders across Northland.
• Building trusted relationships in an environment where there may be understandable sensitivity around the programme and its history.
• Creating opportunities for genuine consultation, active listening and two-way engagement.
• Ensuring iwi perspectives and concerns are heard, understood and appropriately represented within the programme.
• Supporting conversations relating to Māori data sovereignty, privacy and the management of health information.
• Working closely with programme leadership and other workstreams to ensure change and engagement considerations inform decision-making.
• Supporting stakeholders through change in a considered, transparent and culturally appropriate way.
• Travelling across the Northland region to engage with stakeholders face-to-face.

About you
This role requires someone with strong change capability, but equally importantly, someone who knows how to operate effectively within communities and build credibility through listening and engagement.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Strong experience in change management, community engagement or stakeholder engagement within complex programmes.
• Previous experience engaging with iwi, Māori communities or similar community stakeholder groups.
• An understanding of Māori data sovereignty and the considerations surrounding the collection, access and use of data.
• The ability to build trust and establish relationships in sensitive or high-profile environments.
• Strong facilitation, communication and active listening skills.
• The confidence and maturity to work with stakeholders who may hold different perspectives or have concerns about the programme.
• Previous exposure to crisis, remediation or high-profile change environments would be advantageous.
• Experience within health, government or another highly regulated environment would also be beneficial.

This is an opportunity for an experienced change professional who understands that effective engagement isn’t simply about communicating what is changing — it’s about listening first, building trust and bringing people on the journey.

If this sounds like you, please apply via the prompts and Paula Rae Broussard will be on contact from there: [email protected]

Applicants must have the right to live and work in New Zealand.