Chief Executive
Permanent / Full Time
Executive role guiding Aviva's sustainability, partnerships and impact across Canterbury's family violence and sexual violence prevention sector.
Chief Executive
Aviva | Christchurch
Growing what works. Protecting what matters.
Over the past several years, Aviva has grown steadily and deliberately and has evolved into an organisation of more than 55 kaimahi, delivering highly regarded services across Canterbury with a valued reputation at national levels. That growth has been purposeful, values-led and grounded in trust - with Aviva recognised throughout the motu as a credible, collaborative voice within the violence-prevention sector.
It is this success, maturity and increased complexity that has led the Board to establish a new Chief Executive role.
Why this role exists
Aviva operates in a demanding, crisis-driven environment, delivering critical frontline services to communities in need. Like many purpose-led organisations, it works within a challenging funding landscape shaped by shifting government priorities, while responding to increasing and often complex demand across the communities it serves.
The Chief Executive role has been created to build on Aviva's historical success, strengthen long-term sustainability and provide clear organisational leadership and external stewardship in partnership with the communities and individuals they serve.
This role is about carrying the organisational and system-level leadership load so clinical and operational leaders can focus on what they do best: delivering safe, high-quality services and supporting kaimahi in delivering challenging mahi.
It is an investment in stability, clarity and future resilience.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive will provide strategic, relational and organisational leadership for Aviva. You will work in close partnership with an experienced Senior Leadership Team, including the General Manager - Clinical Services, to ensure Aviva remains safe, credible, well-governed and purpose-aligned in a complex operating environment.
Your focus will include:
About you
You will bring strong senior leadership experience within complex, values-led environments - ideally within the NGO, social services, health or community sectors. You will understand the realities of government funding, contract-based delivery and the emotional load carried by frontline teams.
You are likely to be someone who:
Why Aviva
Aviva is widely respected for the quality of its services, its principled approach and its commitment to systemic support and collaboration across the sector. The organisation is known for doing its mahi with care, courage and integrity - and for putting people at the centre of decisions.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a leadership role that genuinely matters: one that supports safer homes, stronger communities and long-term social change, while working alongside committed, values-driven people who care deeply about their work.
For a confidential conversation or to request a Candidate Briefing Document, please contact Heather Ewing on 03 2650 667 or Rob Bishop on 03 2650 666 or click the 'Apply' button to express your interest in finding out more.
All applications will be managed by the team at Bishop.
Aviva | Christchurch
Growing what works. Protecting what matters.
- Build on success: Lead an established, values-led organisation that has grown steadily and earned deep trust across the sector.
- Purpose with scale: Carry strategic and external leadership to enable frontline and clinical teams to continue focusing on delivering life-changing mahi.
- Leadership that matters: Partner with an experienced leadership team and a committed board to ensure Aviva remains safe, sustainable and future-ready.
Over the past several years, Aviva has grown steadily and deliberately and has evolved into an organisation of more than 55 kaimahi, delivering highly regarded services across Canterbury with a valued reputation at national levels. That growth has been purposeful, values-led and grounded in trust - with Aviva recognised throughout the motu as a credible, collaborative voice within the violence-prevention sector.
It is this success, maturity and increased complexity that has led the Board to establish a new Chief Executive role.
Why this role exists
Aviva operates in a demanding, crisis-driven environment, delivering critical frontline services to communities in need. Like many purpose-led organisations, it works within a challenging funding landscape shaped by shifting government priorities, while responding to increasing and often complex demand across the communities it serves.
The Chief Executive role has been created to build on Aviva's historical success, strengthen long-term sustainability and provide clear organisational leadership and external stewardship in partnership with the communities and individuals they serve.
This role is about carrying the organisational and system-level leadership load so clinical and operational leaders can focus on what they do best: delivering safe, high-quality services and supporting kaimahi in delivering challenging mahi.
It is an investment in stability, clarity and future resilience.
The opportunity
Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive will provide strategic, relational and organisational leadership for Aviva. You will work in close partnership with an experienced Senior Leadership Team, including the General Manager - Clinical Services, to ensure Aviva remains safe, credible, well-governed and purpose-aligned in a complex operating environment.
Your focus will include:
- Strengthening strategic cohesion and long-term sustainability
- Working alongside the senior leadership team to strengthen Aviva's external relationships with government, funders, iwi and hapū, kaupapa Māori providers, and sector partners (including specialist sexual violence networks)
- Supporting strong governance, financial stewardship and risk management
- Enabling deliberate, well-paced organisational evolution
- Creating the conditions for kaimahi to thrive by ensuring leadership load is appropriately shared and thoughtful outcomes are achieved
About you
You will bring strong senior leadership experience within complex, values-led environments - ideally within the NGO, social services, health or community sectors. You will understand the realities of government funding, contract-based delivery and the emotional load carried by frontline teams.
You are likely to be someone who:
- Leads with humility, emotional intelligence and strong personal integrity
- Understands Te Tiriti o Waitangi and can authentically champion kaupapa Māori
- Is politically astute and confident navigating government and sector relationships
- Balances strategic thinking with deep respect for clinical and specialist expertise
- Is collaborative rather than directive, steady rather than performative
- Knows how to protect people and purpose while still thinking commercially and systemically about sustainability and future success
Why Aviva
Aviva is widely respected for the quality of its services, its principled approach and its commitment to systemic support and collaboration across the sector. The organisation is known for doing its mahi with care, courage and integrity - and for putting people at the centre of decisions.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a leadership role that genuinely matters: one that supports safer homes, stronger communities and long-term social change, while working alongside committed, values-driven people who care deeply about their work.
For a confidential conversation or to request a Candidate Briefing Document, please contact Heather Ewing on 03 2650 667 or Rob Bishop on 03 2650 666 or click the 'Apply' button to express your interest in finding out more.
All applications will be managed by the team at Bishop.
