Chief Operating Officer

Ngāti Awa te toki, te tangatanga i te rā, te ngohengohe i te wai

Over the years, Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa (previously known as Ngāti Awa Social & Health Services) has evolved into a leading iwi provider of health, social, and employment services, and more recently, Kāinga Māori development services. Our vision, “Mai i te korenga ki te ao mārama, mai i te ao mārama ki te mana motuhake: from poverty to wellbeing, from wellbeing to independence” guides everything we do.

We’re currently experiencing rapid growth, creating new opportunities for people who want to make a difference in our community.

Mā whero, mā pango – The Mahi Ahead

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) will lead our strategic and operational delivery of services ensuring our services are high‑quality, safe, and grounded in Te Pou Mataaho, our model of practice. Working closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team, the COO will turn strategy into sustainable, effective operations.

In this full-time, permanent role you’ll oversee the Service Delivery and Corporate Services, ensuring our organisation meets all quality, contractual, and legislative requirements. You’ll drive operational excellence through strong systems, performance management, and continuous improvement, ensuring we are prepared to implement new services and initiatives.

Through values‑based leadership, you’ll strengthen organisational culture, build workforce capability, and enable kaimahi to deliver mana‑enhancing, outcome‑focused support to whānau. This role ensures our operations are efficient, safe, and scalable supporting our long‑term aspirations for positive social, health, and housing outcomes for iwi and community.

He kai kei aku ringa – Your Strengths and Capability

You are a highly capable and strategic COO with senior leadership experience, strong operational expertise, and a proven track record in the health or social services sector. You lead with clarity, confidence, and cultural competence, driving organisational performance and high‑quality outcomes for whānau.

Key capabilities we’re looking for:

• Demonstrated people leadership, including developing, coaching, and aligning staff across both kaupapa Māori and mainstream environments.
• Strong business acumen with experience in budgeting and financial planning.
• Innovation‑led approach to improving systems and processes.
• Applies evidence‑based decision making to turn data into practical operational action.
• Proven project management capability with reliable delivery against deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build trust.
• Strong knowledge of sector regulations, compliance requirements, and service delivery standards.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in business or commercial management.

Ngā Whiwhinga - What You’ll Gain

Join us in Whakatāne, a coastal town with all the essentials including rivers, beaches and native landscapes. You’ll be part of a workforce immersed in Te Ao Māori, with pathways to expand your skills and knowledge through our Te Pou Mataaho wānanga and other professional development initiatives. We offer a competitive salary reflective of your experience, along with a range of staff benefits subject to eligibility. Explore the opportunities we have available and grow your career with us.

Tono Mai - Apply Today

Applicants must have the legal right to work in Aotearoa. If this role resonates with you, we would love to hear from you or feel free to visit our website to see a full list of our current vacancies. Applications close 15 September 2026. For more information please visit our website https://www.tetohuoteora.org.nz/ or email us at [email protected].