Mo tatou - About Us
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.
Ka noho mātāmua te orangatonutanga o te tangata ki a mātou o Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa. Ko te aronga matua kia haere haumaru ngā tāngata katoa ki te mahi, kia hoki haumaru ki te te kāinga. Inā ka ngākaunui koe ki ēnei āhuatanga, tomo mai ki tēnei whare whakaruruhau.
WorkSafe New Zealand/ Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, is the primary workplace health and safety regulator – our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi 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 annual leave
- 15 days sick leave
- Learning and professional development opportunities
There are a growing number of employee-led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities, such as our Te Rōpū Atuapiko Rainbow Network, Pacific Network, Wāhine Network and Tū Rangatira Māori Network.
Ō te tūranga - About the role
As Head of Communications and Government Services , you will play a pivotal role in ensuring WorkSafe operates effectively as a Crown entity. You will be the Privacy Officer for WorkSafe to ensure we meet our Official Information Act and Privacy Act obligations, and you will lead teams responsible for government engagement, ministerial servicing, internal and external communications, and performance reporting.
Following a recent review, this role will enhance how WorkSafe demonstrates its value to stakeholders. Key priorities include refining accountability reporting, strengthening strategic branding, and embedding consistent internal processes. You will ensure performance data is accurate, aligned with financial reporting, and supports informed decision-making.
Over the next 12 months, you’ll integrate teams, foster collaboration, and build a high-performing function valued by Ministers and stakeholders. As a leader, you will drive data-led decision-making, upskill leadership, and implement tools that enhance organisational effectiveness. You will also lead proactive, narrative-driven engagement to position WorkSafe as a sector leader.
Ko ngā pukenga ōu - What You'll Bring
You are a strategic leader with deep expertise in government processes, accountability frameworks, and stakeholder engagement. You thrive in complex environments, balancing regulatory compliance with operational excellence. You are passionate about improving processes, driving a high-performance culture, and strengthening WorkSafe’s external impact.
Key Skills & Experience
- Extensive experience in ministerial and government engagement with a strong understanding of the machinery of government, ministerial processes, and board-level reporting.
- A strong leader who empowers teams, fosters collaboration, and builds a high-performing workplace culture.
- Proven ability to navigate complex government relationships, ensuring high standards in ministerial servicing, official information requests (OIA), and external communications.
- Strong understanding of government accountability frameworks, performance reporting, and risk management, with a focus on streamlining processes and improving transparency.
- Exceptional strategic communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex information for executive and board audiences, refine ministerial board papers, and maintain high standards in external engagement.
- Decisive and seasoned in overseeing media response and high-profile communications, ensuring WorkSafe’s positioning is clear, consistent, and aligned with strategic goals.
- Experienced in influencing senior leaders, managing stakeholders, and driving organisational change.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a critical function in a high-profile regulatory organisation. You will play a key role in shaping government engagement, strengthening organisational performance, and embedding best-practice governance. If you are looking to drive meaningful change and position a corporate function as best in market, we encourage you to apply.
Me pēhea te tono - How to apply
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 proposed impacted kaimahi are given first preference for roles being recruited.
To apply online, please apply through the link provided. We will be assessing applicants as applications are received, so we encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.
