Head of Technology

About the organisation

Southern Cross Health Insurance is working to improve wellbeing across Aotearoa New Zealand. Its purpose is to help members live healthier lives for longer by providing confidence through access to quality care, encouraging healthier habits, and contributing positively to the wider health system. As a New Zealand-owned, member-focused organisation, it is building a future where wellbeing sits at the centre of everything it does, while creating a workplace where people can do their best work.

This is a strong moment to join a high-performing, values-led team where people matter. The organisation offers the chance to grow, contribute meaningfully, and take pride in the impact of the work.

About the role

The organisation supports nearly one million members across New Zealand, so the scale and accountability are significant. With product and technology teams building momentum, two senior technology leadership opportunities are available for people who want to influence technology strategy, strengthen engineering culture, work closely with product and business leaders, and help teams deliver safely and consistently.

One opportunity focuses on stewarding an existing portfolio of products and services. The other is centred on new product development within a proactive health space, closer to building a consumer-facing digital product from the ground up. Both roles suit pragmatic leaders who understand trade-offs, can set direction, and know how to bring teams along through change.

Candidates may put themselves forward for one or both roles, and fit can be discussed during the process.

Why this opportunity stands out

The organisation is actively investing in its people, technology, and mission. Even in a cautious market, it continues to strengthen its foundations and build capability. Successful candidates will have executive backing, a clear mandate, and the ability to shape engineering practice at scale.

The product and technology function is growing, the employer brand is gaining momentum, and the organisation’s reputation continues to strengthen externally. In 2026, Southern Cross ranked 8th in the Kantar Corporate Reputation Index and 5th in New Zealand for Trust.

What you will do

• Set the technology direction for your portfolio, linking technical choices to business strategy and managing technical debt in a deliberate way.
• Lead, coach, and grow a strong technology organisation, including squad leads and future leaders, while building accountability, learning, and high performance.
• Work as a true partner to product and business leaders, helping shape outcomes and keeping teams focused on value creation.
• Define and communicate the technical rationale, including principles, standards, and architectural guidance that give teams clarity and autonomy.
• Promote modern engineering methods such as DevSecOps, CI/CD, reliability, observability, and security by design to support safe and frequent delivery.
• Act as the escalation point for significant technology risks, incidents, and major decisions affecting the value stream.
• Encourage innovation through technology, including the use of AI and other emerging approaches to solve practical business problems.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior leaders, strategic partners, and vendors.

What you will bring

• Experience leading technology across several teams and disciplines such as platforms, architecture, cloud, data, integration, and service operations.
• A strong grasp of contemporary engineering practice, including DevSecOps, CI/CD, reliability, observability, and security by design, with evidence of improving delivery quality and speed.
• The ability to influence beyond day-to-day delivery, including setting direction, shaping investment and sequencing decisions, and operating credibly at senior leadership level.
• Experience developing capable leaders and sustainable teams that can perform without heavy dependency.
• Solid understanding of product-led ways of working and agile principles, along with success partnering closely with product leadership.
• The judgement to modernise carefully by reducing complexity, choosing sensible trade-offs, reusing what makes sense, and guiding people through change.
• Curiosity about innovation, including AI and new technologies, balanced with long-term thinking.
• Experience managing strategic technology relationships, including vendors and platform partners.
• Relevant technical or business qualifications that demonstrate expertise, curiosity, and a growth mindset.

Culture and values

The team is described as proud, diverse, caring, honest, open, and true to its values. The organisation emphasises wellbeing, work/life balance, and opportunities to thrive both professionally and personally.

Employee benefits

• Five wellbeing leave days each year
• Health insurance cover for you and your immediate whānau
• Life insurance, plus discounts on pet and travel insurance
• Additional parental leave support and financial wellbeing assistance
• Access to a workplace wellbeing programme
• The option to buy flexi leave for study, volunteering, or supporting whānau
• An annual volunteer day to support a cause with your team

Location and working arrangement

These roles are based in Auckland. Remote working is not available, and applications from candidates outside the area can be considered only if they are able to work onsite.

Inclusion and belonging

The organisation has signed the Pride Pledge, reflecting its commitment to inclusion and belonging. It also supports employee-led diversity forums and networks, including Rainbow, Māori, Pasifika, Neurodiversity, and Whānau Support groups.