Compliance Lead

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

At Southern Cross Health Insurance, our purpose is to help our members live their healthiest lives for longer. As New Zealand's largest health insurer and a regulated financial institution, trust, transparency and sound conduct are at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for an experienced compliance professional to step into a senior leadership role as our Compliance Lead - the cornerstone of our compliance capability. This is a significant opportunity to shape how compliance is embedded across a complex, member-focused organisation, leading a team and working at the intersection of regulatory strategy, people leadership and business partnership.

About The Role

Reporting to the Head of Risk, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, the Compliance Lead is responsible for the effective embedding of our compliance framework across Southern Cross. With three direct reports - including our Compliance Manager - you'll lead and develop a high-performing compliance team while building genuine compliance capability and culture throughout the organisation.

This role sits at the centre of our approach to regulatory risk management: overseeing licence conditions and compliance obligations, advising on conduct and member-first outcomes, and ensuring our people have the knowledge, tools and confidence to make good decisions every day.

You'll be a trusted advisor to senior leaders and governance forums, and a credible, constructive partner to our regulator - bringing both technical depth and the interpersonal skill to translate complex obligations into clear, practical guidance.

What You'll Lead

Compliance Framework & Culture

• Lead the embedding of the Society's compliance framework, setting expectations and accountability for compliance and conduct outcomes across the organisation
• Build compliance capability through practical education, guidance and people leadership - making compliance meaningful, not just a checklist
• Develop and coach a team of compliance professionals, fostering resilience, a strong service mindset and continuous learning

Risk, Controls & Advisory

• Partner with Line 1 to design, implement and improve proportionate compliance and conduct controls
• Assess compliance risks, identify regulatory gaps and provide pragmatic, business-appropriate solutions
• Provide timely, trusted advice to the business on regulatory and legislative requirements and their practical implications

Assurance, Monitoring & Issue Management

• Design and deliver a risk-based compliance assurance plan covering licence conditions, regulatory obligations and conduct risks
• Oversee the identification, escalation and remediation of compliance incidents and issues
• Drive member-first conduct outcomes across decision-making, product design, sales and advice processes

Governance & Regulatory Engagement

• Produce and present compliance reporting that enables effective Board, executive and management oversight
• Maintain constructive, professional relationships with regulators including the FMA
• Actively participate in governance forums and support regulatory submissions

What You'll Bring

• 6+ years of compliance experience within a bank, insurer or regulated financial services environment
• A law degree or equivalent — you don't need to be a practising lawyer, but strong legal literacy is essential
• Proven experience managing conduct compliance risk and building obligations registers or traceability matrices
• Experience leading people and developing team capability in a compliance or risk setting
• Demonstrated ability to operationalise regulatory requirements and translate complex obligations into accessible, practical guidance
• Familiarity with New Zealand's financial services regulatory environment, including FMA expectations and CoFI
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship skills — able to work credibly with executives, Board members and regulators
• Experience managing regulatory change programmes and maintaining risk appetite frameworks, KPIs and KRIs
• International compliance experience or exposure to principles-based regulatory regimes is an advantage

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 — where your expertise genuinely matters and your leadership makes a difference — we think you'll love working with us.

We know that it's our people's culture and wellbeing that drives us forward. That's why we prioritise not only professional development, but opportunities to thrive personally too.

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
• Workplace wellbeing programme participation
• Opportunity to purchase flexi leave for study, volunteering or whānau support
• Annual volunteer day with your team

Southern Cross Health Insurance is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to a workplace where everyone can bring the best of themselves.

While we appreciate applications from outside of Auckland, we are unable to consider remote working arrangements for this role. Please state in your cover letter whether you are planning to relocate to Auckland if you are based elsewhere.

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.