General Manager, People and Capability
UPANE KA UPANE, WHITI TE RA!
Advancing together into a brighter future
Kaiwhakahaere Matua Pae Here Tāngata | General Manager, People and Capability
Porirua | Senior Leadership Role
Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira exists to serve Ngāti Toa and strengthen the long-term wellbeing, prosperity, and rangatiratanga of our iwi. As our organisation continues to grow in scale, complexity, and impact, we are seeking an experienced and influential people leader to join our senior leadership team as General Manager, People and Capability.
This is a role for someone who believes that organisational success is built through capable leaders, clear expectations, strong workforce systems, and disciplined people practices.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Pou Manaaki | Chief Corporate Services Officer, you will lead the People and Capability function and serve as the principal advisor to the Executive Leadership Team on workforce strategy, leadership practice, organisational capability, employment relations, and people risk.
You will help shape the next stage of organisational maturity by strengthening leadership accountability, lifting workforce capability, improving people systems and processes, and ensuring our people practices support both organisational performance and whānau outcomes.
This is not a traditional HR leadership role. We are looking for someone who can move comfortably between strategic thinking and practical execution, who can provide trusted advice while also holding clear standards, and who can influence leaders across a complex and values-driven organisation.
What you will do
You will:
Lead and develop the People and Capability team.
Shape and implement workforce and capability strategy.
Advise and challenge executive leaders on workforce and organisational matters.
Strengthen leadership capability and performance discipline across the organisation.
Oversee talent acquisition, succession, workforce planning, learning and development, and employment relations.
Ensure employment risk, compliance obligations, and people governance requirements are effectively managed.
Use data and evidence to inform workforce decisions and identify emerging risks.
Build fit-for-purpose systems, policies, reporting, and people processes that support consistency and accountability.
About you
You are an experienced senior people leader who combines sound judgement, credibility, and practical delivery.
You will bring:
At least seven years' experience in senior HR, People and Capability, organisational development, or employment relations roles.
Experience leading a People and Capability or related corporate function.
Strong experience advising executives and senior leaders on complex workforce and organisational issues.
Deep knowledge of New Zealand employment law, employment relations practice, and people risk management.
Proven success leading teams and delivering results through others.
The ability to build trust while maintaining high standards and accountability.
We would be particularly interested in candidates who have experience within iwi, Māori, public sector, health, education, social services, or other values-led environments, and who understand the opportunities and responsibilities that come with working in kaupapa Māori settings.
Who will thrive here
You are likely to succeed in this role if you:
Give clear and direct advice, even when it is difficult.
Balance empathy with organisational discipline.
Challenge constructively rather than avoid necessary conversations.
Bring calm authority to sensitive employment and leadership matters.
Can navigate organisational complexity without becoming captured by it.
Focus on practical outcomes rather than bureaucracy.
Take an enterprise-wide view of organisational success.
Why join Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira?
This is an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to an organisation that exists for the benefit of Ngāti Toa whānau, both now and for future generations.
You will have:
A genuine mandate to shape organisational culture and capability.
Direct influence with executive leadership.
The opportunity to strengthen leadership practice across a growing and complex organisation.
Scope to improve systems, processes, and workforce outcomes.
Flexible working arrangements and a supportive leadership environment.
Applications
If you are an experienced people leader who combines strategic insight, sound judgement, courage, and a commitment to building strong organisations, we would welcome your application.
Nau mai, haere mai. Join us in strengthening the capability and future of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.