Policy Graduates Programme
At MSD, we value your unique perspective and potential. We bring together extraordinary people, like you, to be part of our whānau, a dynamic community of problem solvers who thrive on embracing differences and influencing initiatives that impact the lives of people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
We provide you with the foundations for success, and the opportunity to fast-track to a permanent policy analyst role at the end of the programme, advising the Government of the day.
You’ll be joining a supportive, values driven and team-based workplace to launch your policy career.
Over the course of our one-year grad programme, you will have rotations within two of our policy teams. Given MSD’s broad mandate, you could be providing policy advice to Ministers on addressing child poverty, improving housing outcomes, employment programmes or community development.
We want to hear from you if you can support our goals to provide an uplifting work environment for all, and to be stewards of exceptional social policy outcomes for Māori.
Policy work is as diverse as the people who work in policy. The only requirement is a degree – any degree.
We are looking for graduates who are critical thinkers, problem solvers, and willing to learn. Don't be concerned about your GPA or type of degree, as long as you have graduated within the last 3 years (regardless of your age). We are more interested in people who are collaborative, responsible, curious, enthusiastic and share our values.
We celebrate an inclusive and diverse workforce, including through our staff networks for Pasifika, disabled people, Rainbow and Māori staff.
Rosie Anderson, Principal Advisor
Having studied Law and Politics, I joined MSD's Grad Programme in 2017 because it gave me the chance to create positive change for New Zealanders.
The programme was challenging, rewarding and gave me a really strong basis for the other roles I've had. The training, development and support enabled me to build policy skills quickly and learn about the type of policy I was most interested in. In the first year I provided advice on supporting young people into employment, measuring outcomes for disabled people and had opportunities to do cross-agency work and public engagement. Since then, I've primarily worked on population policy for disabled people, carers, children and young people and now older people.
Kam Salt, Policy Analyst
I studied a Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Zoology at Otago. I applied to join the 2023 Policy Grad Programme, seeing it as an opportunity to step outside the lab to learn about how decisions are informed and made.
During the programme, I was well supported in stepping into new industry and developing new skills. I also learned a lot about the considerations (beyond research) that feed into policymaking – spoiler, it is more complex than I had thought! At the same time, the programme helped me to apply and grow the unique skillsets that a background in biological sciences gave me in the policy space.
I started in the Older Peoples policy team, where I worked on pension eligibility settings. I then moved into Housing policy, where I have worked in policy areas such as Emergency Housing, Accommodation Supplement, and Social Housing.
Josie Coombes, Policy Analyst
I studied a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology at Victoria University of Wellington. Whilst I loved my studies, I felt lost on what kind of career I could move into after completing my degree.
I applied for the 2023 policy graduate programme at MSD, having no idea what policy was, primarily because the programme invited students from a range of academic backgrounds to apply.
Through the programme I gained an abundance of skills that have set me up well to work across a range of work programmes. I started my time at MSD in the Welfare System team where I contributed towards key manifesto commitments. I then moved into the Older Peoples Policy team for the second half of the programme where I have worked across pension policy, residential care supports, and other key programmes that the team leads and supports.
What to expect
Applications for the 2026 Policy Graduate Programme have now closed.
We will contact all candidates with the outcome of their application by the end of July.
If you are successful in progressing through the 2026 application process, you can expect the following stages:
- Longlisted candidates will be invited to complete a one-way online interview in late July.
- Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to attend an in-person assessment day on 31 August 2026 in Wellington.
If you were unsuccessful at this stage, we encourage you to search for other suitable roles through the MSD Jobs page below.
Please keep an eye out for email communications from us, and if you have any questions, email us at Policy_Graduates@msd.govt.nz
Join Our Talent Community
If you are interested in hearing more, including receiving a link to the application once it is live, please register your email and contact details here
Join Our Talent Community
If you are interested in hearing more, including receiving a link to the application once it is live, please register your email and contact details here
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