Design and Change Lead | Permanent | Wellington
Date: 10 Dec 2025
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
Design the future. Champion change. Inspire people. Your leadership can make the difference.
Step into a role where creativity meets strategy and people are at the heart of every decision. As our Design & Change Lead, you’ll:
- Lead innovative design projects that make a real impact
- Influence and champion change across Disability Support Services and the sector
- Empower your team to deliver for disabled people, their whānau, and communities across Aotearoa.
If you’re a visionary leader who thrives on collaboration, inclusion, and making a real impact, this is your opportunity to shape the future.
About our team | Mō te tīma:
The Disability Support Services (DSS) Group is responsible for commissioning, funding, and stewarding high-quality services that support disabled people, their families, and whānau.
We’re building leadership and management capacity across our teams to deliver both change and business-as-usual effectively.
We work closely with providers, stakeholders, and communities to ensure services are fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable. With a strong focus on performance monitoring, data, and insights, we’re committed to continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
It’s an exciting time to join DSS as we strengthen our systems and expand our capabilities.
We’re looking for passionate people to help us achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
We’re looking for a strategic thinker and a hands-on leader who can embed human-centered, inclusive design practices and drive effective change management across our organisation and sector.
As Design and Change Lead, you’ll oversee the delivery of design projects and embed change across DSS and the disability sector.
We’ll work closely with leaders and teams to ensure initiatives are well-planned, communicated, and adopted, while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
This role is based in Wellington.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead day-to-day operations of the design and change team.
- Develop and implement change strategies and frameworks that enable smooth adoption.
- Lead design projects using co-design principles and systems thinking.
- Facilitate discovery, ideation, prototyping, and testing activities.
- Collaborate with internal teams to deliver integrated solutions.
- Mentor and coach team members to build capability and cohesion.
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.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
- Strong expertise in service design, human-centered design, and systems thinking.
- Significant experience in business change management in complex environments.
- Proven experience in applying change management methodologies and tools.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills with senior leaders.
- Understanding of public sector service delivery and policy development.
- Experience with agile and iterative approaches, including prototyping and user testing.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced setting.
- Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles is a bonus.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description can be found here. Design and Change Lead position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Monday 19 January 2026
About us | Mō mātou:
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) 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.
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.
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.
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. You can find out more about our values here.
If you have any support or accessibility requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
