Care Home & Village Manager

Role overview

Heritage Lifecare is hiring a people-focused and commercially minded Care Home & Village Manager to oversee Waiapu House Lifecare & Village in Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay. The site includes an 80-bed care home and a 31-unit retirement village.

This position is centered on leading daily operations, improving the village experience, encouraging resident engagement, supporting occupancy growth, and making sure residents are proud to live at Waiapu House. You will work closely with an experienced Clinical Manager to build a supportive, welcoming environment for residents and their whānau, while promoting service excellence, ongoing improvement, and strong community connection.

Key accountabilities

• Direct the everyday running of both the care home and the village, with a focus on excellent resident outcomes and strong business performance.
• Increase village occupancy through relationship building, community outreach, and support across the sales process for prospective residents.
• Develop and maintain trusted referral relationships in the local area to support growth opportunities for the village and care home.
• Support teams to deliver compassionate, person-centred care that improves wellbeing, independence, and overall quality of life.
• Help build a lively, connected village culture where residents feel involved, respected, and proud to belong.
• Oversee staffing, budgets, financial performance, quality frameworks, and operational planning to meet business goals.
• Ensure the service meets Ngā Paerewa standards and follows best-practice aged care expectations.
• Coach and grow multidisciplinary teams so they consistently deliver excellent service and improve over time.
• Strengthen connections with residents, families, whānau, and community partners while representing Heritage Lifecare’s values and brand.

What the role asks for

• Substantial senior operational leadership experience, preferably in aged care, retirement villages, healthcare, or a similar service setting.
• Strong commercial judgement, including experience handling budgets, lifting occupancy, supporting business growth, and taking full P&L responsibility.
• Proven ability to build community relationships, referral networks, and sales support for resident acquisition.
• Excellent people leadership with a collaborative, caring, and practical problem-solving style.
• Experience guiding high-performing teams through change while protecting resident and customer outcomes.
• A solid understanding of aged care operations and the needs of older adults, including people requiring higher levels of support.
• Working knowledge of Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Services Standards and a commitment to applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice.
• Energy, resilience, and a genuine drive to create thriving communities where residents can enjoy independence, connection, and a good quality of life.

Additional information

This is a full-time, onsite role based in Hawke’s Bay - Havelock North. The application closing date is 05 Jul 2026.

Heritage Lifecare states that it values diversity and inclusion and upholds the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Shortlisting is underway, and the role will close once a suitable candidate has been identified.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand, and visa sponsorship may not be available for this role.

For a confidential discussion, contact Micky Sahni, Senior Regional Manager, on 027 267 3451.

Document referenced: care-home-and-village-manager-position-description_sept-2024-(3).pdf.