Principal HR Advisor, Te Pae Tawhiti / Workforce Strategy & Organisational Design - Fixed term
Wellington, NZ
12 Month Fixed term/Secondment opportunity - Preferably this role will be based in Wellington but will consider applications from Auckland and Christchurch
- Be a fundamental part of MSD's Transformation journey
- Help us to continue designing a future where our employees are at the heart of our business
- Your business partnering, communication and organisational design skills will be highly valued as the keys to your success!
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
The Principal HR Advisor provides strategic organisation design, change and strategic HR advice to the transformation programme, Te Pae Tawhiti. The position is responsible for partnering with the service change teams and relevant business groups to identify both the strategic and tactical workforce needs and requirements to ensure effective workforce transformation. Key to the position is understanding, developing and implementing people strategies and approaches that are people centric and meet the organisation’s strategic outcomes.
The Principal HR Advisor understands organisation levers, is a relationship builder and highly effective communicator who is focused on supporting and embedding people centric practices.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
Skills and Experience
As a Principal HR Advisor, you will provide employee experience and organisational design expertise. You will have a key role in ensuring that our people are at the heart of how we design and support our future services; with the ability to apply your broad range of knowledge across all aspects of human resources, you will be comfortable providing strategic and operational advice and guidance to a range of programme workstreams.
Your success will be due to;
- Strong partnership building, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Recognised as a ‘Trusted Advisor’ to senior management in a medium to large organisation
- Commitment to driving strong and effective relationships.
- Exercises sound judgement, high integrity and political sensitivity.
- Highly effective and authentic leadership and communication skills.
- Welcomes and values diversity and contributes to an inclusive working environment where differences are acknowledged and respected.
- Highly motivated and self-directed and contributes thought leadership across the business
- Highly developed Leadership skills with the ability to articulate key organisational priorities
- Speaks confidently and intelligently to different audiences on all aspects of their business areas
- Ability to engage and influence senior leaders
- Use of organisational/people metrics to drive organisational performance and planning.
- Exposure to and knowledge of working in an agile environment with an ability to ‘work in the grey’ and pragmatically change priorities based on need
- Experience working on high-impact initiatives and delivering projects in a structured environment
- Ability to collaborate and influence effectively across multiple groups, management and unions
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Patience and a great sense of humour!
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
How to apply
To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.
Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.
All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz
Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.
Closing date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Joining us
Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
MSD has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that encourages, but does not require, employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants, unless the role is identified as requiring vaccination at the time.
