Payroll Team Leader

• Payroll Team Leader - Waikato
• Alexandra Street, Hamilton CBD
• Permanent Full Time – 80hours per fortnight (1FTE)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

Te Whatu Ora Waikato is looking for a Team Leader within the Payroll Department. This is an exciting role to lead a team of Payroll Administrators to deliver payroll services for Te Whatu Ora Waikato employees. Reporting to the Payroll Manager, you will work to ensure accurate and timely payments to all employees. This includes ensuring compliance with policies, employment agreements, and relevant legislation. The Team Leader will also lead User Acceptance Testing for system changes, and interfaces to the Enterprise Reporting System.

Ideally you will be proactive and have experience with leading a payroll team to meet specific deadlines, combined with an ability to manage multiple processes under pressure. You will have experience working in a fast paced, high and complex payroll environment. You must be highly organised with excellent communication skills.

Required skills include a strong technical ability to understand complex payroll rules and legislation, and practical application of these rules and legislation. You must have the ability to lead a team, and the knowledge and expertise to inspire others through support and mentorship. You will have the skills to build and nurture a positive work culture.

Key responsibilities:

• Delivering timely and accurate payroll payments to all Te Whatu Ora Waikato staff
• Leading the Payroll Operations Team for Waikato and providing supervision, mentoring and support
• Ensuring Payroll Compliance with relevant payroll and employment legislation
• Creating a positive workplace culture that values diversity, inclusion and equity
• Supporting the business processes feeding into Payroll and to ensure continuous quality improvement
• To maximise the benefit of the HRIS System

Click here to view the position description.

About the Service

We are a values based and inclusive team that is committed to ensuring timely and accurate payments to our staff. To do this we are working to develop a robust and capable workforce. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds with the necessary capability and who share our values to apply.

About you

We are looking for a payroll superstar that preferably has management experience or is looking to take that next step in their career.

• A management and/or payroll qualification or equivalent is preferred
• You should have at least 5-7 years of payroll experience
• Ideally you would have a minimum of 2 years’ experience leading a team (10+ employees)
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent computer skills
• Ability to relate with people from different walks of life
• Able to lead by example
• PeopleSoft (HRIS) experience preferred

How to Apply

To apply please click “Apply online” or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal before 11:59 pm on 15 February 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Rachael Devey at Rachael.Devey@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.