Emergency Management Advisor

Company Description

Ko wai mātou - About us: 

Hato Hone St John has been serving New Zealanders and working to save lives since 1885. As well as providing Ambulance Services, our programmes and team of over 11,000 staff and volunteers are helping to build strong, resilient communities across the motu; supporting everyone in Aotearoa/New Zealand to live healthier, happier, and longer lives. 

This role has been developed through a change process which was aimed at ensuring optimal outcomes for all callers and patients seeking advice or care from the ambulance service.  

Job Description

He aha te tūranga - About the role:   

We are seeking an experienced Emergency Management professional to provide strategic leadership across catastrophic planning, preparedness, and organisational resilience initiatives.

This role holds significant accountability for advancing emergency management capability, with particular focus on high-consequence risk scenarios including AF8 and other nationally identified risk profiles. You will ensure preparedness frameworks are robust, integrated, and operationally ready — strengthening readiness, response, recovery, and reduction activities across the organisation.

Due to the nature of the portfolio, participation in an on-call roster (evenings and weekends) is required.

Key responsibilities include:   

• Hold accountability for the contracted emergency management portfolio and embed capability across the assigned area. 
• Deliver portfolio outcomes in line with the Emergency Management Team workplan, on time and within budget. 
• Lead emergency readiness planning, including major incident, tactical, and preparedness plans. 
• Ensure effective response capability and provide tactical and strategic support during major incidents. 
• Lead recovery planning to support a timely return to business-as-usual following incidents. 
• Guide post-incident reviews and implement continuous improvement actions. 
• Support the development and implementation of business continuity plans across the organisation. 
• Partner with internal leaders and external agencies to coordinate emergency planning and preparedness. 
• Represent the organisation at local and regional emergency planning forums, providing leadership and advice where required. 
• Promote health, safety, wellbeing, compliance, and organisational resilience through effective risk management. 

Qualifications

Ko wai koe - About you:  

You are a highly capable emergency management advisor with demonstrated experience operating within complex, high-pressure environments — ideally within healthcare, ambulance services, or emergency response systems in New Zealand.

You’ll bring:

• A sound understanding of healthcare strategy and delivery in New Zealand in an emergency ambulance service and/or emergency management experience. 
• Be tertiary qualified in Emergency Management or have comprehensive knowledge of Emergency Management systems, processes, and capability. 
• Good financial understanding and numeracy skills 
• Innovative, with the ability to think outside the box. 
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team. 
• Strong leading through influencing skills. 
• Flexibility and a willingness to do what is needed to complete the requirements of the role.  
• Be able to articulate clearly, and have the ability to quickly build trust and strong relationships. 
• Demonstrated behaviours that align with St John's core values -Do the right thing, Side by side, straight up, Make it better, Open minds 

Additional Information

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to apply. 

Click “I’m interested” before applications close on Sunday 21st June 2026.

For further information please contact Jess McKenzie , Recruitment Advisor on  09 526 0528 EXTN 8095 or jess.mckenzie@stjohn.org.nz  for a confidential discussion. 

Please note: all appointments are subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks including but not limited to physical assessment and health check. This does apply to current members as well. For clinical operations roles where you are required to drive, you will be required to meet Hato Hone St John medical standards. 

At Hato Hone St John, we embrace diversity, welcoming everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. We value unique perspectives, fostering inclusivity to better serve our communities, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs. 

E pōhiritia nei e mātou, te whānau o Hato Hone St John, ngā rerekētanga o ia tāngata ki te haramai. E āwhinatia e mātou I ngā whakaaro rerekē, kia mahi pai I roto I ngā hāpori katoa. Ko tā mātou nei haepapa, kia hanga tētahi āhuru mōwai mā tatou, kia mahi haumaru ai. 

If you need accommodations for accessibility, please reach out to the recruiter listed for equitable participation in our recruitment process.

Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups are less likely to apply for roles when their experience doesn’t match the job description perfectly. If you’re excited and think you have what it takes, we want to hear from you! Even if your experience doesn’t align 100%. Please apply or contact the recruitment advisor listed on the advertisement for a kōrero.