About the role
The Institute of Internal Auditors New Zealand is seeking a commercially grounded and strategically capable Executive Director to lead the organisation through its next phase.
This is a hands-on leadership role in a lean professional membership body. The role requires practical delivery, financial discipline, member engagement, and the ability to work well across staff, Board, volunteer, sponsor, and stakeholder relationships.
The role is not about reinventing IIA NZ. It is about building on good foundations, bringing focus and discipline, and ensuring the Institute continues to deliver value for members in a sustainable way.
Reporting to the Board through the Chair, the Executive Director is accountable for the leadership and stewardship of the Institute, working closely with the Board, committees, members, IIA Global, regional affiliates, sponsors, partners, and stakeholders to deliver agreed priorities.
Key responsibilities
- Strengthening member engagement, value, and retention across the full breadth of the membership, including members who are less engaged today
- Maintaining financial sustainability and operational discipline
- Overseeing a high-quality, financially sustainable conference, events, education, sponsorship, and member engagement programme
- Supporting effective governance through clear reporting, sound advice, and constructive engagement with the Board
- Leading and developing the national office team
- Working effectively with volunteers, committees, partners, and external providers to extend the Institute's reach and capability
About you
You are likely to bring:
- Experience leading or operating within a membership organisation, association, professional body, not-for-profit, or similarly relationship-driven environment
- Demonstrated experience in organisational leadership, operational management, and financial accountability
- Strong commercial and financial management capability, including budgeting, reporting, forecasting, and sustainability planning
- Experience leading small, remote, or geographically dispersed teams
- Experience working with Boards, committees, or volunteer governance structures
- Strong stakeholder management, communication, and relationship-building capability
- Experience overseeing events, education programmes, sponsorship, partnerships, or member engagement initiatives
- Sound judgement and the ability to balance strategic thinking with practical execution in a lean operating environment.
This is not primarily a technical internal audit role. The Board, committees, and wider membership provide significant professional and technical leadership across the profession. The Executive Director’s role is to steward and strengthen the organisation itself.
About us
The Institute of Internal Auditors New Zealand is the professional membership body supporting internal audit and assurance professionals across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, with connections into the wider IIA regional and global network.
IIA NZ is an incorporated society governed by an elected Board and affiliated with The Institute of Internal Auditors Global, representing a worldwide network of internal audit professionals.
For more than 40 years, IIA NZ has supported members through professional connection, advocacy, education, events, and access to global standards, guidance, and thought leadership.
Location and remuneration
IIA NZ operates with a flexible and largely remote working model. Wellington is preferred, given the location of many of the Institute’s key stakeholders and governance relationships, but applications from elsewhere in New Zealand are welcomed.
This is a full-time, permanent role. The Board’s preference is for a full-time appointment, but we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for the right candidate where they support the effective leadership and operation of the Institute.
Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.