Heritage and Co-existence Lead | Wellington | Permanent
Date: 12 Jul 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Lead the transition between Heritage (legacy) systems and modern platforms at scale
- Ensure safe, stable coexistence across complex transformation environments
- Permanent Wellington based role
This is a unique opportunity to lead across complex environments, balancing delivery, risk and continuity while supporting the shift to modern, future-ready systems.
About our team | Mō te tīma:
Every week, around 1.4 million New Zealanders count on MSD for income support and services to connect with work, housing and better lives for their families.
Our Technology group provides the technologies, innovation and expertise that enable MSD staff and partners to deliver these essential services, today and into the future.
We’re driving a once in a lifetime transformation of services for New Zealanders. The group is a key enabler of this change bringing together strategic thinkers, technology specialists and delivery leaders to design solutions and deliver change while keeping vital services running reliably every day.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
As Heritage and Co-existence Lead, you will lead the delivery of heritage system changes required to support MSD’s transition to new platforms. You will ensure legacy systems and new solutions can safely coexist across transition states, with a strong focus on service continuity, data integrity and operational stability.
This is an opportunity to shape one of New Zealand's largest and most complex technology transformations, influencing the transition from legacy platforms to future-ready services used by millions of New Zealanders.
You will coordinate across multiple workstreams to align development, testing, release and go-live activities, ensuring heritage dependencies are understood and effectively managed. You will also lead the roadmap for system decommissioning, overseeing the transition of functionality and ensuring legacy platforms are retired in a controlled and structured way.
This role plays a key part in MSD’s Services for the Future transformation, ensuring that transition outcomes are delivered safely and sustainably, with minimal disruption to services relied on by New Zealanders.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead heritage system delivery activities, including build, integration and release alignment
- Execute the coexistence strategy to enable legacy and new platforms to operate together
- Identify and manage risks associated with coexistence and system dependencies
- Coordinate cross-workstream alignment to ensure integration sequencing and readiness
- Lead the decommissioning roadmap, including backlog prioritisation and vendor delivery
- Provide expert advice on legacy system constraints, risks and transition impacts
We’re committed to creating a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Diverse perspectives strengthen our mahi, and we value the unique contributions everyone brings to the team.
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 experience working with legacy (heritage) systems in large, complex environments
- Proven ability to manage system coexistence and staged decommissioning across transformation programmes
- Demonstrated experience managing integration dependencies and risks across multiple platforms and vendors
- Sound understanding of integration patterns, data flows and system transition challenges
- Experience supporting delivery lifecycles, including release coordination, testing and go-live readiness
- Strong planning and prioritisation skills, including roadmap and backlog management
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly
- Strong governance awareness, including risk reporting, escalation and decision support
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description can be found here. Heritage and Co-existence Lead position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $163,784.00 - $203,820.00
A salary offer will be based on the preferred candidates skills and experience and our team relativities.
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Sunday 26 July 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 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.
How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono
Before you submit your application, please take a moment to review our guidance to understand how AI can best support your application. Candidate Guidance - Responsible AI use in recruitment
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. Please highlight how your skills and experience relate to the key responsibilities listed in the position description and job advertisement.
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.
