Connector
Date: 24 Mar 2025
Location: Canterbury, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
About us:
The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.
We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.
As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.
Mō te tīma / About our team:
The Disability Support Services (DSS) Group works to ensure fair access to disability support services in New Zealand, prioritizing those with the greatest needs.
Through the DSS Review Programme, the Group is focused on implementing key recommendations to deliver consistent, equitable services, prioritize high-needs individuals, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of DSS, all while upholding Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles.
Mō te tūnga / About the role:
This role makes a significant positive impact on the lives of disabled people, whānau and communities. The team is diverse and proactively aims to reflect the population we serve.
As a team we work as an ally who assists a disabled person and their family to dream big, make a plan for the future and connect with their local community.
As a Connector you will work alongside disabled people and their whānau in exploring choices, creating possibilities, and supporting aspirations using the Enabling Good Lives approach.
Through creative endeavours, the Connector empowers disabled people to design their good life plan in a way that aligns with their personal aspirations.
You will be responsible for establishing respectful, trusting relationships with disabled people and their whānau to ensure they have a positive experience.
You will work creatively with disabled adults, children and their whānau to plan and develop the life they want, including how opportunities in the community could be accessed, what current support is working well and what new and different support could be established.
You will identify opportunities and creative solutions to achieve life outcomes in line with the disabled persons will and preference, seeking advice where necessary.
Please be aware these roles can be located in Christchurch, North Canterbury or Selwyn. To find out more about the Enabling Good Lives approach please visit https://www.enablinggoodlives.co.nz/
We value diversity and welcome applications from disabled people and those who have lived experience with whānau, or the disability community. Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.
Ōu pūmanawatanga | What you bring:
- A deep understanding of the Enabling Good Lives principles and approach, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
- Experience supporting people to think creatively about their life opportunities and how to bring these opportunities into being.
- Links within the communities we serve, including Māori, Pasifika, Rainbow (LGTBI+) people, those new to New Zealand and / or Deaf culture and you will have strong connections to, and knowledge of, the local community as well as the capacity and resources within it.
- Experience building and maintaining trusting relationships with a diverse range of people from diverse backgrounds.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt your method of communicating to the situation and person.
- You will have the ability to self-manage and to work independently with a high workload in complex circumstance.
Position Description
A copy of the position description can be found here. Connector position description.
Salary range: $78,222 - $94,689
How to apply:
To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.
Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.
All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz
Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.
Closing date: Monday 7 April 2025.
Joining us:
Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
MSD has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that encourages, but does not require, employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants, unless the role is identified as requiring vaccination at the time.
