About our team | Mō te tīma:

The Disability Support Services Group (DSS) is being established to ensure fairer access to disability support services in New Zealand, ensuring those with the greatest needs receive quality support services.

The DSS Review Taskforce has been established to implement the recommendations of the Independent Review in DSS to:

• provide disabled people with certain and consistent access to DSS, no matter what their circumstances or where they live in New Zealand
• prioritise funding for disabled people with the highest needs, and those who would benefit most from early intervention support
• ensure that Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles are put into practice
• ensure that the long-term sustainability of DSS is strengthened to provide disabled people and carers with services that are both fair and affordable.

About the role | Mō te tūnga:

You will be the key conduit between DSS and Treasury—building strong relationships, providing economic and sector analysis, and influencing investment decisions. 

Drawing on your expertise in welfare economics, health funding, or public finance, you’ll design and champion evidence-based models that support equitable and sustainable disability funding into the future.

Working closely with policy and operational leaders, you will ensure that funding models reflect sector needs, government priorities, and the diverse perspectives of disabled people and whānau.

Your work will directly inform the development of the fair funding allocation approach, support multi-year funding tracks, and provide the foundation for meaningful change.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of DSS funding and allocation frameworks, grounded in sound economics and sector evidence
• Engaging constructively with Treasury and other agencies to secure alignment and support
• Providing strategic advice to senior leaders on funding model design and fiscal strategy
• Overseeing high-impact projects that drive long-term value and equitable outcomes
• Building DSS’s capability in economic analysis and funding modelling

This is a fixed term or secondment opportunity ending 30 June 2026.

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:

You will bring strong analytical and relationship-building skills, a deep understanding of public funding systems, and a commitment to improving outcomes for disabled people.

We're looking for someone who can bridge technical expertise with strategic influence, and who thrives in a collaborative, cross-agency environment.

You will also have:

• Advanced qualifications in economics, public policy, finance or a related field
• Extensive experience in economic or funding model development in the public sector, ideally in health, disability or social services
• Proven experience working with central agencies on funding approaches
• Understanding of the disability sector, actuarial modelling, and social investment principles
• The ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders including Treasury, Ministers, and senior leadership
• A track record of leading through complexity and delivering high-quality, practical funding solutions

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:

A copy of the position description can be found here. Director Future Funding Models position descritpion.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $161,811.00 - $214,131.00