Manager Business Rules | Transformation | Wellington
Date: 2 Nov 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Permanent role based at National Office in Wellington
- Lead and evolve the Business Rules practice at organisational scale
- Build and lead MSD's practice that turns legislation, policy and procedure into clear, consistent decisions for New Zealanders.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
Every rule MSD applies to someone's entitlement starts as words in legislation and policy. We're building a practice that turns those words into clear, testable logic that can be traced back to its source. We want someone to lead this growing practice.
As Manager Business Rules, you'll lead and grow MSD's Business Rules practice within the Transformation Group. You'll lead people, build capability and look after the maturity of the practice, so MSD has the right business rules expertise for its transformation and change programmes.
We are currently proving and improving our approach based on industry best practice and extending this into emerging practices. We're looking for someone to take this work forward, to grow and strengthen our business rules practice while working closely with practice leads, design and delivery leads and stakeholders.
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Lead, coach and develop a growing team of business rules professionals, and build a strong community of practice
- Create clear learning and career pathways that bring people from a range of backgrounds into business rules, such as analysis, law, policy, linguistics and testing, and grow them into skilled practitioners
- Roll out the practice, set its standards, methods, tools and governance, and measure and improve its maturity against emerging practice such as Rules as Code
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment and resource allocation, and support practitioners working across matrix reporting lines
- Build strong relationships with leaders, policy, legal, delivery and technology teams, and champion consistent, transparent and traceable decision-making.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga
- Experience leading a business rules, business analysis, decision management, requirements or related practice in a large, complex environment
- A change mindset and the ability to keep a team performing well while the practice and the organisation are both changing
- Proven experience in a people leadership role with a track record of building teams and developing people
- Demonstrated ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across business and technology domains
- Credibility as a senior adviser on business rules governance, decision modelling, quality and traceability
- Experience making methods and standards stick across an organisation
- The ability to turn complex policy and operational requirements into clear, governed rules, and to explain why that matters to non-specialists
- Curiosity about where the discipline is heading, such as Rules as Code, decision services and responsible use of AI
- A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to building te ao Māori into how your team works.
You might have come to this from business analysis, requirements engineering, policy, law, legislative drafting, architecture, information management or consulting. We care more about how you lead and think than about your job title.
What’s in it for you | Nōu te rourou
This is a rare chance to embed an emerging practice that is recognised as foundational to organisational success.
MSD is in a once-in-a-generation transformation that will shape how we deliver services for the next 30 years. How fairly and consistently those services are delivered will depend on the practice you build. Your work will affect people who rely on MSD for income support, housing and employment, and could become a model for how the wider public service turns legislation and policy into reusable logic and code.
Unlock potential. Join MSD.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 11.59 pm, 15 November 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.
