Chief Executive Officer

• Lead a national organisation with a clear purpose
• Shape advocacy, relationships and sector engagement
• Wellington preferred | Four or five days per week considered

Alzheimers New Zealand is seeking a Chief Executive to lead the organisation through a period of transition, with a strong focus on long term strategic positioning, clear and focused delivery, organisational stability and strengthening sector wide relationships to support both day to day leadership and future direction.

Alzheimers New Zealand works with member organisations throughout New Zealand to provide advocacy, national leadership, strategic influence, education and support. It operates in a federated environment, with strong regional relationships, a national voice and a clear role in supporting people living with dementia mate wareware to be valued and supported.

The operating environment is complex and highly relationship based. The organisation is balancing advocacy, member support, governance, fundraising and national alignment, while continuing to strengthen its relationships and position in the sector. Taking a strategic approach will be important in this complex, challenging and changing environment.

This role will suit a leader who can bring people together, work closely with the Board, engage confidently with government and sector agencies and bring a clear strategic lens to the organisation’s role, priorities and partnerships, while also providing practical leadership in a small organisation.

What you’ll do

• Work with member organisations in a federated structure to strengthen alignment, consistency and trust, while helping shape a clear national direction for the organisation and its role in the sector.
• Represent the organisation with government, funders, sector partners and other stakeholders, with credibility and sound judgement.
• Support the Board with governance processes, advice, board papers and organisational insight, while contributing to strategic thinking, priority setting and decision making.
• Lead a small national office and keep the organisation running effectively through a period of change.
• Oversee the National Donor Programme, ensuring fundraising activity remains well managed and effective and aligned to broader organisational priorities.
• Support the Dementia Learning Centre and the leader of that function so it continues to deliver industry training and build capability.
• Proactive risk awareness and management, taking a sector as well as an organisation view to leverage the best outcomes to deliver on the organisation’s purpose.
• Contribute to practical operating model work and support discussions about stronger sector connection, including with Dementia NZ, with a view to long term positioning and sector impact.

What you’ll bring

• Senior leadership experience, ideally in a not for profit, health, social sector or membership-based environment, with evidence of setting direction and leading strategically.
• Exceptional relationship skills and the judgement to work well with government entities, sector agencies, funders and partners, with the credibility to influence at a senior level.
• A proven ability to work constructively with a Board and support sound governance, strategy and decision making.
• Experience leading a small, distributed team and balancing strategic priorities with hands-on delivery.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to support income-generating activity, including donor and education-related functions in a way that encourages long term sustainability.
• Political awareness, resilience and a practical style that provides clarity and confidence in a changing environment.
• An understanding of federated organisations or member-based structures would be helpful, along with the ability to work effectively in a complex stakeholder environment.

Why this role
This is an opportunity to lead a national organisation with a clear purpose and an important role in the sector. You will help shape its strategic direction, strengthen its voice and position and influence how it works with others to improve outcomes. You will join at a time when steady leadership, strong relationships and sound judgement will matter.
The role can be shaped as either four or five days per week depending on the successful candidate.
 
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:  Tuesday, 30 June 2026
APPLY OR VIEW THE POSITION DESCRIPTION:  www.jacksonstone.co.nz
REFERENCE:  BH-11691
 
FURTHER ENQUIRIES: Nikki Franklin and Donna Williams