People and Culture Operations Manager

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

As our People and Culture Operations Manager, you’ll be the trusted subject matter expert at the heart of our People & Culture function - partnering with senior leaders and the wider P&C team to deliver best-practice outcomes across employment and industrial relations, remuneration and benefits, performance management, people metrics, policies, processes, and technology. You’ll play a critical role in translating strategy into practical, scalable solutions that enable a high-performing, engaged culture aligned to the values and purpose of Southern Cross Healthcare.

You’ll lead with confidence in complex and sensitive spaces, providing pragmatic, values-led advice on employee relations matters, change processes, collective bargaining, and union engagement. At the same time, you’ll lift organisational capability - coaching leaders, developing clear frameworks, and building robust, consistent ER practices that balance compliance, commercial reality, and fairness. You’ll stay ahead of legislative change and emerging best practice, ensuring our people frameworks evolve with confidence and clarity.

Beyond ER, you’ll be a key driver of operational excellence across remuneration, benefits, performance management, and HR systems. From supporting annual remuneration and performance cycles, to shaping benefits strategy, improving people metrics, and optimising P&C technology, you’ll bring a continuous-improvement mindset and a strong eye for integration. This is a role for someone who thrives on making things work better - strengthening foundations, enabling leaders, and creating people experiences that truly support our organisation to deliver on its purpose. This is a full-time permanent position based in our National Support Office in Auckland CBD.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Depth and breadth of P&C expertise, with 7+ years’ experience in a specialist / Centre of Excellence role or a senior HR generalist role within a complex organisation, and strong capability across areas such as employment relations, NZ employment law, remuneration and benefits, performance management, and HR policies, systems, and tools.
• A solid professional foundation, supported by a bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, employment relations, or a related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).
• The ability to build instant credibility and trusted partnerships with leaders and stakeholders at all levels - you’re confident, pragmatic, and comfortable influencing in complex environments.
• Strong commercial and strategic acumen, enabling you to design and implement policies, frameworks, and initiatives that are practical, values-led, and aligned to organisational goals.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the confidence to advise, coach, listen, challenge, and influence - whether in writing, in workshops, or in high-stakes conversations.
• A highly organised, outcomes-focused approach, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, manage deadlines, and keep momentum across competing demands.
• A proactive, self-starting mindset, with proven experience leading projects and driving continuous improvement from concept through to delivery.
• Unquestionable integrity and discretion, with a strong commitment to confidentiality and professional standards.
• Experience in NZ employment law and/or remuneration frameworks (highly valued), with health sector experience welcomed but not essential.

Ngā mea ka taea e mātou te tuku I a koe | What we can offer you:

• Competitive Rewards: Attractive remuneration package, relocation allowance, and employee referral bonus scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Funded health insurance, a comprehensive wellbeing programme, and a break over Christmas/New Year.
• Flexibility & Growth: Flexible working arrangements.
• Perks & Community: Discounts from a range of partners and the opportunity to join our Employee Network.

Ko wai matou | Our Organisation

At Southern Cross Healthcare, our purpose is clear: to advance quality healthcare across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our values shape everything we do:

• Care First – We lead with compassion, delivering care that’s deeply human through genuine manaakitanga.
• Better Together – Collaboration is our strength. We unite diverse skills and perspectives to create better outcomes for all.
• Pursue Excellence – We strive to improve, innovate, and excel every day—never settling, always aiming to deliver our best.

We’re proud to bring together over 4,000 skilled professionals—including 2,000 nurses and anaesthetic technicians—working alongside more than 1,200 specialists, surgeons, anaesthetists, and allied health experts. Together, we’re one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and most trusted healthcare providers.

Driven by a strong ‘for purpose’ ethos, we think beyond financial quarters—planning for generations to come.

Tō mātou whakahaere ki te tika, te rerekētanga, me te whai wāhi mai | Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and foster a culturally safe environment that reflects manaakitanga and values the unique perspectives of our people. Our core value, Better Together, guides our goal to build a workforce that mirrors the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand.

If you have specific needs or would like to discuss how we can support you, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected] for a confidential conversation.

Haere mai, ā, mā te mahi tahi ka whai wāhi ki tētahi mea whai take, ka āwhina i ngā tāngata ki te whai oranga mā te whakaaro anō ki te tautiaki hauora

Join us, and together, each of us can be part of something important, helping people live their best lives by reimagining healthcare.

Apply now