National Volunteer Advisor

He huanuiorangamōngā mokopuna whakatipuranga roto ingāhaporihekeiho, hekeiho

Setting the path of wellness in our communities for the early years, for generations to come.

At Whānau Āwhina Plunket, we’re on a journey to ensure every pēpē, tamariki and whānau across Aotearoa can thrive.

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do. They extend our reach, strengthen our connection to communities, and bring lived experience and passion into our mahi.

We’re looking for a National Volunteer Advisor to lead and shape the future of volunteering across our organisation. This is a unique opportunity to influence at a national level, designing and embedding frameworks that empower our volunteers, strengthen communities, and ensure a consistent, safe, and mana-enhancing experience.

TeWhiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of volunteering at Whānau Āwhina Plunket at a national level. As our National Volunteer Advisor, you’ll lead the design, development and ongoing evolution of a cohesive volunteer framework that supports a consistent, safe and mana-enhancing experience across Aotearoa.

Working closely with Community Services leaders and regional teams, you’ll provide system-level leadership - guiding how volunteering is structured, supported and grown across the organisation. You’ll lead national recruitment approaches and campaigns, ensuring they are aligned to community need and grounded in insight, while enabling regions with the tools and guidance to deliver locally.

You’ll also play a key role in strengthening how we recognise and value our volunteers, ensuring our approaches are equitable, meaningful and reflective of our values. Through your work, you’ll help ensure volunteering at Plunket continues to be a powerful way we connect with communities and support whānau to thrive.

He kōrero mōu | About you

You’re a strategic and collaborative thinker who enjoys working at a systems level and influencing meaningful change. You’re comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity, and you know how to bring people on the journey.

You build strong, trusted relationships and bring a thoughtful, inclusive approach to your work. You’re motivated by purpose and driven to improve outcomes for tamariki and whānau, with a strong commitment to equity and TeTiriti o Waitangi.

You’re equally comfortable zooming out to design frameworks and zooming in to understand what’s happening on the ground. You use data and insights to inform your thinking, but you also value lived experience and community voice.

Ngāpūkenga me tōhunga Motuhake | Skills and Qualifications

• Experience designing and leading frameworks, systems or programmes (ideally within volunteering, community or social services) 
  

• Strong systems thinking with the ability to create scalable, practical solutions across diverse regions 
  

• Proven ability to influence, align and bring stakeholders on the journey without direct authority 
  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and insights to inform decisions 
  

• Ability to translate strategy into clear, practical guidance, tools and resources 
  

• High level of cultural competence, with experience working alongside Māori and diverse communities and an understanding of TeTiriti o Waitangi and its application in practice
  

• Relevant qualification in community services, social services or a related field (or equivalent experience) 

   

   

Ngāhua mahi o Te Whānau Āwhina | What we offer

• A collaborative senior leadership environment where your voice matters 
  

• The opportunity to lead meaningful work that supports tamariki, whānau and communities
  

• Flexible working and a focus on wellbeing 
  

• Various wellbeing schemes such as two Wellbeing days: use one of your sick leave days to proactively protect your well being
  

• In line with our ongoing goal to support our kaimahi to thrive in a culturally safe environment, we have multiple community of interests for kaimahi Māori, Pasifika, Asian and more. To support your growth in practice, we have dedicated space and time where our Kaimahi Māori gather quarterly by region and nationally once a year.

   

   

Me pēheatetukutono| How to apply

Applications must be made online and close 6th May 2026. For specific questions about the mahi, please reach out to hr@plunket.org.nz

Please note, we will process applications as they are received. If we find a successful candidate, we reserve the right to close this advert early.

Position description Apply now

Share