Risk Partner

About us

Southern Cross Health Insurance is shaping a healthier Aotearoa New Zealand. Our purpose is simple: empowering our members to live well for longer. We're here to give peace of mind through timely access to quality care, inspire healthier living, and lead positive change across the health system. As a New Zealand-owned, member-based organisation, we're building a future where wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do -- delivering exceptional value for our members and creating an environment where our people thrive.

Now is an exciting time to join us. You'll be part of a high-performing, values-driven team where people are at the heart of everything we do -- and in return for your talent, you'll have the opportunity to grow, make an impact, and be proud of the difference your work makes.

About the role

Southern Cross Health Insurance serves close to one million members across Aotearoa. Keeping that trust means staying on top of risk — and this role sits right at the centre of it, helping the business identify, manage and stay ahead of what matters most.

We are looking for a Risk Partner (Line 1) to play a critical role in embedding effective risk management practices across the business. This is a great opportunity for an experienced risk or compliance professional who wants to uplift risk maturity, strengthen controls, and become a trusted partner to the areas of the business they support.

You'll work closely with your business area to build risk awareness and improve risk-related processes and systems, using our Enterprise Risk Management system to manage issues and incidents, and contributing risk insights and governance reporting that keep the business informed and in control.

Key responsibilities include:

• Identifying, assessing, managing and reporting on business risks, ensuring robust controls are in place

• Building risk awareness across your business area and continuously improving risk-related processes and systems

• Managing issues and incidents through our Enterprise Risk Management system

• Creating risk insights and contributing to business-level and governance reporting

• Supporting Risk in Change (RiC) activity across your portfolio

• Driving continuous improvement to uplift risk maturity across the function

• You're confident giving constructive challenge, comfortable working with senior management, and can pivot across a wide range of subject matter without losing your footing.

Ideally you will also have:

• 3+ years' operational risk and/or compliance experience in a line 1 or line 2 role

• Experience across multiple financial services businesses

• A track record of embedding risk management and compliance practices

• Health and/or life insurance industry experience

• Strong data analysis, visual reporting and governance/assurance report writing skills

• Change management experience in agile environments

• Strong issue diagnosis, root cause and problem-solving skills

• A practical understanding of the regulatory, compliance and legal environment Southern Cross operates in

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to tailor your message for different audiences

• A natural relationship-builder who can quickly earn trust and influence stakeholders across the business

Who we are

Ngākau nui. Āhurutanga. Tikanga.

Join a proud, diverse team that’s always there, always real, always true. If you thrive in a caring, honest and open culture, we think you’ll love working with us.

We know our team’s culture and wellbeing drive us forward. That’s why we prioritise not only professional development but opportunities to thrive personally. We offer exceptional work/life balance, and our people are encouraged — and rewarded — for living well.

Southern Cross employee benefits include:

• Five days of wellbeing leave per year

• Health insurance for you and your immediate whānau

• Life insurance cover and discounts on pet and travel insurance

• Extra parental leave benefits and financial wellbeing support

• Participation in our workplace wellbeing programme

• The option to purchase flexi leave for study, volunteering, or supporting your whānau

• An annual volunteer day to contribute to a cause with your team

This role is Auckland based. While we appreciate interest from candidates in other locations, we’re not able to consider remote options at this stage. If this sounds like the kind of work you want to help shape, we’d love to hear from you. Have questions? Check out our FAQs for help with the application and recruitment process.

We are proud to have taken the Pride Pledge, reflecting our commitment to inclusion and belonging. We also facilitate an active, employee‑led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum, which includes our Rainbow Network, Māori Network, Pasifika Collective, and Neurodiversity and Whānau Support networks.

If you share our commitment and passion, we'd love to hear from you.