Director Youth, Ministry of Youth Development - Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi
Date: 11 Jan 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
Location: Wellington based
Type: This appointment will be for a fixed term/secondment period of between six to twelve months, Full-time
About us | Mō mātou:
The Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) - Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi encourages and supports young people, aged between 12 and 24 years old, to develop and use knowledge, skills, and experiences to participate confidently in their communities.
We partner with others to enable, fund, and promote youth development opportunities for all young people in Aotearoa New Zealand, alongside supporting the broader youth sector to promote a better understanding of how best to support and empower young people.
MYD spends over $12 million a year on a wide range of youth development and youth enterprise initiatives. We fund organisations that employ a youth development approach to support rangatahi to thrive in Aotearoa New Zealand so that they are able to succeed in, contribute to, and enjoy life.
MYD is a small organisation that achieves results by working with and through others to achieve results. We work collaboratively with young people, other funders (including iwi, business and philanthropic organisations), providers, local government, and other government agencies.
MYD is a Ministry within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and sits within the Māori, Communities and Partnerships group.
Please note that we aim to schedule candidate interviews for this role between 28 and 30 January.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
We are seeking an experienced people leader to join our leadership team as Director Youth, responsible for the functions of Strategy, Performance and Evaluation. This is a pivotal position within the MYD leadership team which helps shape the Ministry’s strategic direction, drives performance excellence, and ensures robust data and evaluation of outcomes that invest in supporting young people.
You will lead a knowledgeable and experienced team responsible for:
• Working closely with Ministers and their offices to provide high-quality advice and reporting that supports informed decision-making and accountability.
• Developing and embedding MYD’s long-term strategy and priorities.
• Providing thought leadership and advice to senior leaders.
• Overseeing organisational performance frameworks and reporting.
• Leading evidence-based evaluation and insights to inform policy and investment decisions.
• Building strong stakeholder relationships and engagement to ensure collaboration and shared outcomes.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
We are looking for someone who:
• Is an exceptional communicator who can influence and build relationships at all levels, including Ministers and senior officials.
• Has proven people leadership and experience in strategic leadership within the public sector or a complex organisation.
• Brings expertise in performance management, evaluation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Demonstrates a commitment to improving outcomes for rangatahi and understands Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
• Sound knowledge of the Machinery of Government.
• Embodies MSD’s values in their leadership approach.
Key Leadership Competencies
To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate:
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture, anticipate future trends, and align organisational priorities.
• Systems Leadership: Skilled at working across boundaries and fostering collaboration to achieve shared outcomes.
• Analytical and Evidence-Based Decision Making: Using data and insights to inform strategy and performance.
• Cultural Capability: Understanding and applying Te Ao Māori perspectives and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in decision-making.
• Influencing and Relationship Management: Building trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders, including Ministers.
• People Leadership: Inspiring and developing high-performing teams.
What we offer | Tā mātou e tuku ana:
It is important to us to:
• support your wellbeing and development
• provide a flexible working environment where you can learn from a supportive and collegial team of experienced policy professionals
• develop your career though the opportunities that come from a broad and varied work programme and our commitment to your ongoing professional development
• collaborate and support each other and we make sure everyone has the chance to develop and to take on new challenges
• value diversity of thinking and background – this informs the creation of responsive policy that reflects the communities we serve
For more information about our strategies please visit the following link: Our strategies – Ministry of Social Development.
MSD has several employee-led networks that build a sense of community for our people so that they can contribute, belong and thrive. Our employee-led networks include, but are not limited to:
• National Office Māori Staff Network - Te Tini ō te Raurearea
• Pasefika Helava
• Disablednetwork@MSD
• Proud@MSD
• Women’s Network
• Pan Asian Network
MSD is a CareWise employer. We commit to showing manaaki to people in our MSD whānau with caring commitments.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $161,811.00 - $214,131.00
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 25th January, 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.
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.
