Advisor- Safe, Strong Families and Communities
Date: 15 Mar 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
• Join a fun, dynamic and inclusive working environment
• National Office, Wellington based
• Permanent opportunity
About us | Mō mātou:
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.
About our team | Mō te tīma:
Safe, Strong Families and Communities at MSD supports a wide range of programmes and initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing vulnerability and harm for individuals, whānau and communities. We also fund and manage several key relationships with the social services sector.
Our ongoing work programme currently has a big focus on leading MSD’s response to family violence, sexual violence, building the financial capability of people in hardship, and improving access to services for disabled people as well as for rural and isolated communities.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
We are looking for an Advisor to support projects and programmes that improve access to services for communities, individuals and families.
As an Advisor, you will be responsible for supporting the design, implementation, and improvement of services commissioned by Safe Strong Families and Communities. You will help deliver projects by providing advice, supporting service design activities, preparing reports, responding to information requests, and engaging with stakeholders. You will support communication, reporting, and quality requirements working closely with the team, our providers and other business groups.
While the work you support will be varied, a core part of your role will be implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including supporting the roll out of new provider reporting; developing surveys; and generating insight reports from service data to identify trends and measure outcomes.
The role will involve working directly with non-government organisations, while also navigating government relationships, so strong engagement and relationship building skills are a must.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
We are looking for an Advisor with experience in supporting programmes and initiatives that improve services for vulnerable communities. The role requires strong relationship management skills, a solutions-focused approach, and an ability to work with data to generate insights that can be used to provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen services.
To be successful in either role, you will:
Have experience in the social services sector, particularly in supporting programme or project delivery.
• Be highly organised, with strong planning and delivery skills to meet agreed timelines.
• Have strong data analysis skills with the ability to work with datasets, identify patterns and trends, and translate these into clear, actionable insights
• Be proficient in Excel (essential) with experience manipulating data, creating pivot tables, developing dashboards, and producing reports
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Be skilled in stakeholder engagement, able to establish and maintain effective relationships across government agencies, providers, and internal teams.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and political sensitivity.
• Be adaptable, pragmatic, and comfortable working under pressure.
• Have experience contributing to projects that give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable. If you are passionate about making a difference and working collaboratively to drive meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you!
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $79,200.00 - $95,873.00
How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono:
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: Sunday 29th March, 2026.
Joining us | Ko te hono mai:
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.
