General Manager – Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Christchurch

Description

Permanent | Full‑time | Christchurch (Ōtautahi)
Relocation support available | Generous remuneration package

Kia hiwa rā!

This is a rare and genuinely unique leadership opportunity.

Ngāi Tahu Holdings is seeking an exceptional General Manager Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) — someone who is energised by complexity, passionate about relationships, and deeply committed to caring for people while enabling strong commercial outcomes.

If you are motivated by the chance to work across multiple high‑risk industry sectors, value authentic leadership, and are at a stage in your career where influence, relationships and legacy matter as much as technical excellence, this role will be of real interest.

About Ngāi Tahu Holdings

Ngāi Tahu Holdings is the wholly owned investment company of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, responsible for protecting and growing the tribal pūtea and settlement assets on behalf of Ngāi Tahu whānui.

Our portfolio spans a diverse range of industries, including tourism (jet boating, glacier guiding), seafood, farming, forestry, property and development. Many of our operations sit in high‑risk, operationally complex environments, requiring a sophisticated, people‑centred approach to health, safety and wellbeing.

Our purpose is intergenerational:
“Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us.”

The role

Reporting to the General Manager – Corporate Services, you will provide strategic leadership for Health, Safety and Wellbeing across Ngāi Tahu Holdings and the wider Te Rūnanga Group.

This role is not about control or compliance alone. It is about enabling leaders, strengthening capability, and fostering a culture where people genuinely care about one another and take ownership of risk.

You will:

• Lead the development and evolution of a group‑wide HSW strategy aligned to organisational values and commercial realities
• Provide credible, pragmatic advice to executive leaders and Boards, including clear interpretation of obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act
• Influence and support leaders across a multi‑sector portfolio, adapting your approach to different risk profiles, maturity levels and operating contexts
• Lead critical risk thinking, assurance and reporting at both operational and governance level
• Strengthen leadership capability so Health, Safety and Wellbeing is owned where the work is done

Your team

You will lead a highly capable team of experienced Health, Safety and Wellbeing specialists. This team exists to coach, challenge and uplift people leaders, not to sit apart from the business.

Your leadership style will matter. This is a role for someone who is authentic, trusted and admired — someone who listens deeply, leads with calm confidence, and builds strong, enduring relationships across the organisation.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a senior HSW leader who brings both professional depth and genuine care, including:

• Extensive experience in senior or executive‑level Health, Safety and Wellbeing leadership
• Experience working across more than one industry sector, ideally including high‑risk or operational environments
• Demonstrated experience in implementing contemporary HSW frameworks and thinking
• Deep working knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act, regulations and governance expectations, with confidence presenting to Boards and senior leadership
• A proven ability to build strong relationships and influence through trust and credibility
• Demonstrated success leading HSW strategy, systems and cultural change
• Experience leading and developing senior professional teams
• Strong analytical capability and an ability to translate data into insight and action
• Excellent communication and presentation skills — clear, grounded and respected

Cultural connection

• An understanding of, or strong affinity for, the aspirations of Ngāi Tahu whānui
• Knowledge of Ngāi Tahu tribal structures is advantageous
• A willingness and genuine commitment to engage in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, and to model cultural confidence in leadership practice

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary or postgraduate qualification in Health and Safety or a related field

What we offer

• A truly distinctive leadership role within one of Aotearoa’s most diverse and values‑led organisations
• The opportunity to work alongside highly respected leaders and continue a strong legacy of Health, Safety and Wellbeing leadership
• A generous remuneration package, commensurate with the seniority and scope of the role
• Relocation assistance for candidates based outside Christchurch
• A supportive environment committed to professional growth, cultural capability and long‑term impact

This role will appeal to someone who wants their work to matter, who values relationships as much as results, and who takes pride in leading with integrity and care.

Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai.

Applications must be received no later than midday 17th. May 2026.