General Manager

General Manager New Zealand Save Sight Society

Location: New Zealand — remote/hybrid

Employment: Contractor, part-time, 4-6h per week

About the role

The General Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to the New Zealand Save Sight Society, ensuring the organisation delivers on its main charitable aims.

Working closely with the Board, clinical and eye-health communities, government, funders, donors, partner organisations and the wider community, the GM will strengthen the Society’s impact, sustainability and profile as a leading voice for eye health in New Zealand.

Key responsibilities

Strategic leadership

· Develop and implement the Society’s strategic direction and annual priorities in partnership with the Board.

· Translate the organisation’s vision and charitable purpose into clear, achievable programmes and measurable outcomes.

· Identify emerging opportunities and challenges in New Zealand eye health and position the Society to respond effectively.

· Build a sustainable long-term organisational model that maximises the Society’s impact.

Organisational leadership

· Develop a high-performing, collaborative and accountable organisational culture.

· Oversee day-to-day operations while ensuring resources are focused on the Society’s highest-impact activities.

· Ensure appropriate policies, systems, risk management and governance processes are in place.

· Support the Board with high-quality reporting, advice and strategic information.

Fundraising and financial sustainability

· Develop and implement a diversified fundraising and income-generation strategy.

· Build strong relationships with philanthropic trusts, corporate partners, major donors and other funders.

· Identify opportunities for partnerships, sponsorship and innovative funding models.

· Maintain robust financial management and ensure the organisation operates within approved budgets.

· Work with the Board to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Advocacy and influence

· Act as a credible and influential public advocate for eye health and preventable vision loss.

· Develop relationships with government agencies, health-sector organisations, professional bodies and relevant decision-makers.

· Represent the Society at sector, community and public forums.

· Identify opportunities to influence policy and improve access to eye-health services and prevention initiatives.

· Communicate complex health issues clearly to different audiences.

Partnerships and stakeholder engagement

· Develop strong relationships across the ophthalmology, optometry, primary care and wider health sectors.

· Strengthen partnerships with other charities, community organisations, researchers and industry.

· Maintain strong relationships with donors, supporters and beneficiaries, particularly Society members and grant recipients.

· Position the Society as a collaborative organisation that brings people and organisations together around shared eye-health goals.

Communications and public profile

· Develop a clear and compelling public narrative around the Society’s purpose and impact.

· Oversee communications, media engagement, digital presence and public awareness campaigns.

· Ensure the Society’s brand and reputation are protected and strengthened.

· Communicate the organisation’s achievements and impact effectively to donors, stakeholders and the community.

Programme and impact oversight

· Ensure programmes and initiatives are evidence-informed, strategically aligned and capable of demonstrating measurable impact.

· Establish appropriate measures of success and regularly evaluate programme effectiveness.

· Encourage innovation while maintaining strong accountability for charitable expenditure.

Key relationships

The GM will develop and maintain strong relationships with:

· Committee of Officers

· Ophthalmologists, optometrists, GPs and other health professionals

· Health New Zealand, Pharmac and other health-sector organisations

· Ministry of Health and relevant government agencies

· Philanthropic trusts and foundations

· Corporate partners and major donors

· Universities and research organisations

· Other vision and health charities

· Community organisations

· Patients, families and people living with vision impairment

· Media and the wider New Zealand community

About the ideal candidate

The successful candidate will ideally have experience in the charitable sector running similar organisations, who is motivated by improving the performance of the charity and delivering on its aims.

Personal attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

Strategic — able to see the bigger picture while translating strategy into practical action.

Influential — confident engaging with senior clinicians, government, donors, business leaders and community organisations.

Entrepreneurial — comfortable identifying new opportunities, building partnerships and developing sustainable sources of income.

Credible and authentic — able to represent the Society with professionalism, warmth and integrity.

Adaptable — comfortable operating in a changing health and funding environment.

Results-focused — committed to demonstrating tangible impact from the Society’s work.

What success looks like

Within the first 12–24 months, the successful GM will have:

· Established a clear strategic direction for the Society.

· Strengthened the organisation’s financial sustainability.

· Developed a strong and diversified fundraising pipeline.

· Increased the Society’s profile and influence within New Zealand eye health.

· Built productive relationships across government, health, philanthropy and the community.

· Strengthened organisational systems, culture and governance.

· Clearly demonstrated the impact of the Society’s programmes.

· Positioned the Society for sustainable growth and greater national impact.

Why join the Save Sight Society?

This is an opportunity to lead an organisation with a clear and important purpose: protecting and improving the vision of New Zealanders.

The GM will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of the organisation, influence the wider eye-health sector and build partnerships that can make a measurable difference to preventable vision loss and access to eye care across New Zealand.