Senior Connector
Date: 25 Mar 2025
Location: Manawatu / Wanganui, 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:
As a Senior Connector you will provide leadership, mentoring and guidance for Connectors and Specialist Connectors to increase their skills to support disabled people and whānau achieve outcomes that are important to them.
This pivotal team is essential to the Enabling Good Lives approach and make 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.
The team works together to work alongside disabled people and whānau to think about options, create possibilities and support decision making about their lives and the resources and connections that would enable them to attain their life objectives.
The team works proactively in people's homes, provider organisations, schools and communities to develop relationships with disabled people and whānau and assist them to be aspirational in planning and directing their own lives.
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.
This role makes a significant contribution to the transformation of the disability system, and enables disabled people and whānau to have more choice and control over the lives they lead and the supports they use.
Please be aware these roles are located in Palmerston North. 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, and commitment to, the Enabling Good Lives vision and Principles and how to apply these in practice.
- Experience supporting people to think creatively about their life opportunities and how to bring these opportunities into being.
- Previous experience coaching, monitoring others and managing the workflow of teams.
- Experience building and maintaining trusting relationships with a diverse range of people from diverse backgrounds, in particular the ability to connect with young people.
- Strong connections to, and knowledge of, the local community as well as the capacity and resources within it.
- Links within the communities we serve, including Māori, Pasifika, Rainbow (LGTBI+) people, those new to New Zealand and / or Deaf culture.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to adapt your method of communicating to the situation and person.
- Self-management, ability to work independently with a high workload in complex circumstances.
- Experience and knowledge in engaging with Māori and Pasifika families.
Position Description
A copy of the position description can be found here. Senior Connector position description.
Salary range: $102,533 - $124,402
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.
