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Posted 16 July, 2026

Principal Advisor System and Entity Monitoring

Ministry of Health New Zealand
Wellington, WGN, NZ Full Time
Reference: a8ce9917ae912fe0

Job Description

Help shape the oversight and performance across some of New Zealand’s most important health organisations and system priorities Provide expert leadership and judgement while supporting the Ministry to build its monitoring capability to be the best in government Provide trusted monitoring, assurance and strategic insight on issues that matter to the performance of New Zealand’s health system Permanent | Wellington based Position | 4.4 weeks annual leave Midpoint of $145,198 dependent on your professional skills and experience What you’ll do This is an opportunity to work at the sharp end of system stewardship, leading complex monitoring and providing authoritative judgement on issues that are visible at the highest levels of government, providing trusted advice that supports decisions by senior leaders and Ministers. As Principal Adviser, System and Entity Monitoring, you’ll play a critical role in turning complex, ambiguous signals into clear, defensible insight. You will lead deep dives, shape escalation decisions, and help ensure entity‑level monitoring translates into coherent system‑level understanding that supports confident decision‑making and public trust. Lead complex monitoring and deep dives by owning high‑risk or ambiguous monitoring activity, defining lines of enquiry, testing competing explanations, and determining whether issues are isolated or systemic. Provide system‑level synthesis and insight by drawing together entity monitoring, analytics and intelligence to identify cross‑entity patterns, emerging trends and early warning signals. Apply expert monitoring judgement and escalation advice by assessing materiality, trajectory and system impact, and recommending proportionate escalation, assurance or intervention options. Lead and assure high‑risk advice and assurance activity by providing senior quality assurance over sensitive advice, shaping targeted assurance or reviews, and translating assurance findings into clear monitoring judgements. Provide technical leadership and uplift monitoring practice by mentoring Senior Advisers and Advisers, contributing to continuous improvement of tools and approaches, and embedding equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations in all monitoring work. What you’ll bring Relevant tertiary qualification and/or equivalent senior experience in health, monitoring, assurance or complex public‑sector environments. Advanced expertise in risk‑based monitoring and assurance, with strong judgement to identify systemic risks, prioritise issues and recommend proportionate interventions. Proven ability to lead deep dives and intensive assurance, including shaping lines of inquiry, testing evidence, commissioning external reviews and translating findings into clear insights. Highly developed analytical, influencing and communication skills, able to convey complex or technical issues clearly and credibly to senior leaders and stakeholders. Recognised technical leader who lifts monitoring practice through mentoring and coaching, with a strong commitment to cultural competence and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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