- Lead a genuine organisational development & safety transformation as a member of MainPower's ELT
- Build the capability, culture & safety foundations that underpin MainPower's strategy
- Rangiora, North Canterbury based
About MainPower:
MainPower has been distributing electricity to the North Canterbury region for around 100 years, delivering power to over 46,000 homes and businesses across the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura districts. Based in Rangiora, MainPower is consumer-trust owned, with a strong and growing focus on the outcomes that matter to the people it serves.
MainPower's people are critical to delivering on its vision. The business is committed to developing a strong workplace culture where people are supported, empowered, and given the tools to succeed in their roles, guided by values that shape how the organisation works with its people, its community and its customers.
About The Role:
As General Manager People, Culture & Safety you’ll be a member of the ELT, reporting directly to the CE, and deputising as required. This is fundamentally an organisational development and change leadership role: building the capability, culture and safety foundations that allow MainPower to deliver on its strategy of building a resilient, adaptable system, enabling real customer choice, and scaling its impact through smarter delivery. You'll lead genuine transformation in how the organisation works — building leadership capability, driving enterprise-wide change, including the organisational and cultural side of AI adoption (which MainPower's digital function leads on the technology side), and keeping people safe.
You will translate MainPower's strategy into an empowered, accountable and high-performing workforce, embedding the decision rights, capability and psychological safety that make that possible. The portfolio spans organisational development, culture and engagement, leadership and capability, change management, people and culture business partnering, remuneration and employee relations, and health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ). You'll also support the Chief Executive in engaging with MainPower's People & Remuneration and Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Environment Board subcommittees.
Beyond the technical competencies, this role calls for genuine energy, a can-do approach, and a strong community orientation. The successful candidate will build relationships easily both within MainPower and across the wider North Canterbury community. Collaboration with other electricity distribution businesses is a key part of how MainPower works, and this role plays an active part in that.
Skills & Experience:
We're looking for an experienced people and culture leader who brings:
- 5+ years leading people, culture and organisational development, ideally at executive level
- A proven track record delivering measurable culture and transformational organisational change
- Change and capability-building experience; experience with AI adoption is desirable
- High-hazard or safety-critical experience, including HSEQ governance and critical-risk controls
- Strong organisational development, workforce planning and employee relations expertise, including New Zealand employment obligations
- Remuneration strategy experience and confidence supporting Board committees
- Strong relationship, coaching and influencing skills, including engaging with unions and employee representatives
- Confidence reporting to the Board and its committees
- Proven staff and budget leadership
Existing connections or roots in North Canterbury are an advantage, though not essential.
Culture:
This role sits at the centre of MainPower's culture and safety agenda. As the executive custodian of both, the successful candidate will be expected to personally embody the standards the organisation is asking every leader to adopt — pairing empowerment with accountability, holding high standards visibly, and building the psychological safety that allows people to speak up, learn and perform. Safety leadership is central: the role provides visible, felt leadership that keeps people safe while supporting a just, fair and learning-oriented safety culture.
Benefits:
MainPower values and supports its people through a genuine 'family feel' culture and community-focused environment. The team works from a purpose-built modern office with free on-site parking, and staff can access a nine-day fortnight option, subsidised health insurance, subsidised gym membership, professional development and recognition programmes, in addition to wellbeing initiatives.
The Rangiora area combines a laid-back, connected lifestyle with the convenience of a 20-minute drive to central Christchurch — the best of both.