Chief Executive Officer
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
equip
Executive Summary
- Exceptional Chief Executive leadership role
- Supporting the mental health & wellbeing of New Zealanders
- Positive, Inspirational, and visible leader
- Committed to community service
THE OPPORTUNITY
Starting in 1991 as an extension of Windsor Park Baptist Church, Equip is now a leading mental health organisation providing an innovative model of care, effective support and education in the greater Auckland region.
Equip provides a range of services to people who experience major mental health issues, and works as a team to support people to maintain what is already working in their lives, as well as providing support to achieve their goals, celebrate their successes, and make barriers easier to get around.
THE ROLE
The Chief Executive is responsible for leading and inspiring Equip with exceptional strategic and operational leadership according to Equip’s vision, mission and values, in order to provide viable health and social services that meet the needs of service users and their families/whanau. The Chief Executive ensures that the provision of services is oriented, people and family centred, responsive, accessible, safe, effective, and clinically sound.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be recognised as a credible sector leader experienced at the executive management level within a small to medium-sized organisation. They will bring a track record of leading service delivery organisations in a complex environment. They will have successfully led change to bring about service improvements and have experience establishing new ventures. Candidates are expected to be exceptional communicators who can demonstrate tangible results achieved through collaboration with key stakeholders. They will bring a demonstrated commitment to Ti Tiriti o Waitangi and be able to work well within an organisation that maintains a Christian philosophical framework.
While not essential, it is preferred that candidates have an Understanding and experience in the health and/or mental health sectors, and understand the political/governmental environment in which an NGO operates.
We invite you to discuss this exceptional leadership opportunity with David Hughes and Paul Ingle from the HardyGroup.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
David Hughes
M. +64 (0)21 286 4470 E. dhughes@hardygroupintl.com
Paul Ingle
M. +61 (0) 402 796 125 E. pingle@hardygroupintl.com
EQUIP
About Us
Equip was established in 1991 by Windsor Park Baptist Church as a faith community’s response to needs created by the deinstitutionalisation of public mental health services. Since then, Equip has continued to respond to evolving needs in the mental health sector and the community.
Currently Equip has contracts with Health NZ/ Te Whatu Ora to deliver community-based support in the Waitemata, Auckland and Counties regions to Adults and Older Adults experiencing mental health challenges.
The majority of our work is adult community support. We also provide a 7-bed respite facility, Dementia Day Care, Family/Whānau, Employment, Housing and Dietician support. We have our Headquarters on the Windsor Park Campus, Mairangi Bay and a site for our Counties staff in Lambie Drive, at Manukau Baptist Church.
We have developed strong organisational, sector and community leadership; employed and developed a committed and competent workforce; focused on continually improving disciplined service delivery; and innovated through evidence-based development. This has ensured that our organization and our services are relevant, responsive, robust, reliable and sustainable.
A strong community service ethos drives Equip. It is affiliated and is an active part of the Windsor Park Baptist community and shares its aims and objectives. This adds considerably to the impact that Equip delivers through community engagement and integration of philanthropic and volunteer resources. It also enables collaboration with other community services based in Windsor Park Baptist Church and the wider Christian Community in Auckland, New Zealand and internationally.
Equip has a strong and robust governance structure with a developed ability to attract and retain high quality board members with relevant experience and governance skills. The organisation has invested in regular training and development of the Board and regularly consider board succession and sustainability.
Our Mission
Sustainable solutions for healthy living.
Our Vision
Supporting people to grow by providing high quality services that meet needs and exceed expectations.
Our Values and Beliefs
We put our faith into action
- We are a Christian response to need in our community. We are not here to judge, we are here to help.
- We will always do what we can to address people’s needs and provide the momentum for them to move forward in their lives.
- This is more than a job. As a team, we are driven by a deep commitment to Christian faith and values. I am committed to doing my part.
Our people matter
- At Equip, we are each part of a bigger picture. We value other roles as much as our own.
- We will do everything we can to raise each other up to achieve outcomes greater than any of us can imagine.
- We will treat each other well and share the load.
- We work through issues face to face and, when necessary, get support from our leaders. I will do my part to build a team culture that is inclusive, safe and positive.
If we can say ‘yes’ we will
- We look for solutions not problems. We have a ‘can do’ attitude.
- When we have to say ‘no’, we will do it respectfully.
- We are team players. We serve with openness and positivity.
To learn more about our full range of services and how we help click the link here
Role Specification
To lead and inspire Equip with exceptional strategic and operational leadership according to Equip’s vision, mission and values, in order to provide viable health and social services that meet the needs of service users and their families/whanau.
To ensure the provision of services that are recovery oriented, people and family centred, responsive, accessible, safe, effective, and clinically sound.
Executive Leadership
- To demonstrate positive and visible inspirational leadership
Strategic Management
- To contribute to the strategic planning processes with the Board.
- To promote Equip as a reputable stakeholder
- To lead and manage the implementation of the strategic plan
- Maintain and strengthen the Core Values of Equip
- Operational Performance
Operational Performance
- To drive the operational performance of Equip.
- To operate within financial parameters, budgets and delegations achieving financial viability
- To utilize available technologies to advance the service.
Stakeholder Relationships
- To understand the roles and requirements of the key stakeholder groups and engage accordingly
- To establish and maintain stakeholder relationships
- To support integrated and collaborative activity with stakeholders that better meets the needs of individual service users and their families
- To promote Equip as a reputable stakeholder
Quality and Risk Management
- To ensure that there is adherence to quality, risk and compliance
People Management
- To recruit, retain and manage the workforce with the required skills and competencies (or working towards) to meet contractual requirements
Innovation, Improvements and New Business
- To establish a flexibility for service change that innovates, improves and enhances Equip
- To develop a readiness for new business
- To identify opportunities for research to enhance service delivery
Professional Development
- To reflect on performance and identify areas for development and growth.
- To engage in meaningful learning activities which benefit the individual and Equip
- Attains and maintains an appropriate body of knowledge relating to theories, models and skills necessary to provide a best practice, evidence-based service for clients
Health and Safety
- To be aware of the obligations of the employer and employee for Health and Safety as per current legislation.
Treaty of Waitangi
- Demonstrates the use of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Develops and maintains culturally safe workplace
- Promotes and Ensures Equity at Equip
A tertiary qualification in health, business or related field.
Other Essential Attributes
- Visionary and strategic
- Commercially astute
- Problem solver and solution seeker
- Politically savvy
- Intuitive
- A high level of personal values including integrity
- Self- motivated
- Flexible
- Self-reflective
- Team player and team leader
- Recognises and cares for own health and wellbeing
- Strong commitment to the mental health sector
For further details on the role requirements, see the position description
Essential Criteria
- Experienced at senior management level within a small to medium size organisation with responsibility for service delivery in complex environments
- Managed and led service teams
- Successfully led change to bring about service improvements
- Has established new ventures
- Proficient in oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrated collaborative ways of stakeholder working
- Demonstrated a commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi and to the diverse communities that access services
- Able to work compatibly within an organisation that maintains a Christian philosophical framework
Desirable Criteria
- Understanding of the political/governmental environment in which an NGO operates
- Understanding and experience in the health and/or mental health sectors
- Responsible to: Chair and members of Equip Trust Board
- Responsible for: General Manager, Dietician, Spirituality Coordinator, Our Voice Leader, Finance Administrator, External Consultants.
Internal
- Service users
- Service user family/whānau
- Equip Staff
- Trust Board
- Windsor Park Baptist Church (WPBC) Leadership (Senior Pastor & Elders)
- Service user Stakeholder Groups
- Family/Whānau Stakeholder Groups
- Kaumatua
- Consultants
External
- Te Whatu Ora (Northern region)
- External contractors
- Relevant government agencies such as Ministry of Social Development
- WPBC staff and community
- Other specialist and general services, and agencies as appropriate
- NGO groups such as Navigate, Platform
- Primary health care organisations (Northern region)
- Baptist Association and Union
Please discuss with Hardygroup Consultant
Service Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Annual Budget: Please discuss with HG Principal Consultant
Staffing: Equip employs 80 staff.
All staff are based in Auckland
The closing date for applications is Friday, 20th June 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5054
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Aldie Zuñiga: M: +61 (0)49 410 1082 / E: azuniga@hardygroupintl.com
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
David Hughes
National Manager, HardyGroup New Zealand
M. +64 (0)21 286 4470
E. dhughes@hardygroupintl.com
Paul Ingle
Chief Executive Officer, HardyGroup Australia & New Zealand
M. +61 (0)402 796 125
E. pingle@hardygroupintl.com
ABOUT US
HardyGroup’s (HG) mission is simple
Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.