Kaituitui – Paerewa Ngaio | Professional Standards Adviser

• Contribute to public safety and trust in New Zealand's health system
• Act as a link between Medical Council and the profession
• Growth opportunities and exposure to diverse, complex regulatory cases

About the role

We are seeking a highly capable Kaituitui – Paerewa Ngaio | Professional Standards Adviser to join our Paerewa Ngaio | Professional Standards team. This is a key regulatory role supporting the Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | Medical Council of New Zealand’s statutory functions under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA) and contributing to the effective management of complex professional conduct and competence matters.

In this role, you will provide high-quality advice, analysis, and case management support across a range of professional standards activities. You will play a key part in ensuring concerns about medical practitioners are assessed, managed, and progressed in a fair, consistent, and legally robust manner.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the protection of public safety and the integrity of medical practice in New Zealand. You will join a values-driven organisation undertaking work of national significance, within a supportive and collaborative team environment.

What you’ll do

• Act as a key point of contact for the profession and members of the public on professional standards issues
• Manage and progress complex professional conduct and competence cases
• Provide high-quality analysis and recommendations to Council in line with the HPCAA
• Assess notifications around conduct and performance concerns about medical practitioners
• Engage with doctors, legal counsel/representatives, notifiers, the Council members and health sector stakeholders
• Support decision-making processes in a regulatory context
• Prepare and present clear, well-reasoned reports, briefings, and documentation for decision-makers and committees
• Ensure all work is accurate, timely, and compliant with legislative and Council policy requirements
• Contribute to continuous improvement of standards, processes, and regulatory practice.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in regulation, case/complaints management, legal, health, or professional standards environments
• Experience in case and/or complaints management and/or dispute resolution with proven de-escalation skills
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying legislation and policy
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making capabilities
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including clear plain language, and attention to detail
• Ability to summarise information accurately and concisely
• Experience preparing high-quality reports, recommendations, and correspondence
• Sound judgement, integrity, professionalism, and ability to navigate sensitive issues with confidence and discretion
• Calm, resilient, and compassionate, with proven experience managing sensitive matters and responding constructively to competing perspectives
• A commitment to public safety, fairness, and continuous improvement
• A commitment to implementing the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• A legal background, particularly in public law, medico-legal matters, or healthcare-related fields, would be beneficial
• Proficient with MS Office Suite, case management systems, CRM database, and cloud-based applications
• Knowledge of the HPCAA would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why join Medical Council?

Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | Medical Council of New Zealand is a regulatory authority established under the HPCAA. Its principal purpose is to ensure the health and safety of patients and protect the public interest by registering doctors, setting and promoting professional standards, monitoring competence and fitness to practise, and taking appropriate action when concerns arise.         

The Council’s staff enjoy a welcoming and collaborative team culture, competitive remuneration, generous staff benefits, and a light-filled Wellington CBD office. Our team embraces genuine flexibility with most staff working from home two days a week, depending on their arrangements.     

How to apply          

Attention your CV and a cover letter to Ngan Nguyen by Sunday 5 July 2026.       

A position description is available on our website at mclaren.co.nz or call us on 04 499 1069.     

 
Once applications have closed, we will commence the shortlisting process, which can take up to two weeks.  We will be in touch with you regarding your application during this time.    

View the position description by copying this link into your browser: https://mclaren.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/MCNZ-PD-Professional-Standards-Adviser-June-2026.pdf