- Executive leadership opportunity
- Lead national insights and engagement
- Shape evidence-driven harm prevention
Lead the intelligence, insights, and engagement system shaping NZ’s harm-prevention strategy. This role also offers flexibility in location, Wellington and Auckland preferred.
About Us - Mo tatou
He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people.
WorkSafe New Zealand | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, is the primary workplace health and safety regulator – our vision is that everyone who goes to work comes home healthy and safe. Our kaimahi are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Mātāpono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do:
- Whakakotahi – we’re united in a strong purpose
- Kōrero mai – we engage meaningfully
- Tiakina mai – we’re entrusted with a duty of care.
We offer a range of benefits, including:
- Free life insurance
- Discounts on health insurance and eye care
- Five weeks of annual leave
- 15 days of sick leave
- Learning and professional development opportunities
About your team - Ko te tīma
We’re looking for an experienced and influential leader to join WorkSafe as the Deputy Chief Executive – Insights and Engagement. This role leads the core intelligence, insights, and design functions that sit at the heart of our strategy and decision-making.
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead teams that translate data, intelligence and operational evidence into practical interventions that prevent harm across Aotearoa and then deliver interventions through policy, guidance, engagement and stakeholder partnering. This is one of the most externally engaged roles in the organisation, with significant influence across government, industry bodies, unions, iwi, and the wider health and safety system.
What You'll Do - Ko tōu ake mahi
As Deputy Chief Executive – Insights and Engagement, you will:
- Lead the design and delivery of WorkSafe’s insights, strategy, commissioning, and engagement functions.
- Build and strengthen national partnerships across government, industry, SMEs, unions, iwi, and sector bodies.
- Shape WorkSafe’s evidence-informed harm prevention approach using data from internal and external sources.
- Oversee the development of regulatory guidance, policy frameworks, and intervention design.
- Partner closely with the DCE Operations to ensure intelligence is translated into meaningful action.
- Lead the development and delivery of WorkSafe’s new Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
- Stabilise and mature a team that has recently undergone transformation, building trust and long-term capability.
- Enhance system-wide collaboration to ensure our insights, design, and engagement; leveraging the efforts of the wider health and safety system
What you'll bring - Ko ngā pukenga ōu
We are seeking a resilient and strategic leader who brings credibility across complex systems and diverse sectors. You will bring:
- Significant executive leadership experience within a large, multi-layered organisation.
- A track record of leading engagement across industry, government, unions, iwi, and regulated communities.
- Proven experience with data-driven decision-making, insights translation, and evidence-informed strategy.
- Expertise in intervention design, policy development, or regulatory frameworks.
- Deep stakeholder relationship capability – trusted, collaborative, and able to influence at all levels.
- The ability to lead teams through change with steadiness, consistency, and long-term commitment.
- Understanding of Aotearoa’s high-risk sectors such as construction, agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing.
- Cultural intelligence, with the ability to work effectively with Māori, Pasifika and diverse communities.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.
Salary range - Awhe utu
As part of our remuneration framework, the full salary range for this position is from $274,011 to $361,698. Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contributions are additional to your base salary.
How to apply - Me pēhea te tono
WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life. We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.
Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you.
We are committed to ensuring impacted kaimahi are given first preference for roles being recruited.
To apply online, please apply through the Seek link provided. Applications close on midday Friday 5th December 2025. We will be assessing applicants as applications are received, so we encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.
To discuss this opportunity in confidence, please contact Richard Gray-Smith at richard@inside.co.nz
