Policy Managers - Welfare System and Income Support
Date: 15 Jul 2025
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
About us
The Ministry of Social Development 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.
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.
Policy Managers - Welfare System and Income Support
- Policy Manager – Welfare System - Wellington
Policy Manager – Income Support – Wellington
Permanent opportunities
We are seeking two motivated Policy Managers at the Ministry of Social Development / Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora (MSD) to lead the Welfare System policy team (from August/September) and the Income Support policy team (from October/November). The managers will work closely together and in partnership with a third policy manager to coordinate work programme management and resourcing decisions.
Mō te tūnga / About the role
As the Welfare System Policy Manager you will lead a team of 6-7 analysts that produces policy advice on a range of issues relating to settings within the welfare system. Most recently, the team supported work to implement the Traffic Light System changes. Current priorities include implementing the Government’s changes relating to tightening eligibility for 18- and 19-year-olds and progressing legislative change relating to MSD’s use of Automated Decision-Making.
As the Income Support Policy Manager you will lead a team of 7 analysts that ensures that the financial assistance that MSD provides is effective and fit-for-purpose. This includes considering the impacts on financial incentives to work, the impacts on poverty and inequality, the design and delivery of payments and the interactions of these payments with other systems. Current priorities include implementing an initiative to improve the accuracy and integrity of benefit payments by using salary and wage income information from Inland Revenue closer to real-time, and working with Inland Revenue on proposals to improve the Working for Families scheme.
You will be responsible for ensuring that your team delivers timely and quality policy advice to the Minister for Social Development and other Ministers. You will also engage with stakeholders across MSD, the wider public service and others.
You will develop and maximise the capability of your team members, providing them with opportunities to grow their skills, knowledge and confidence. You and your team will have the professional support of Principal Policy Analysts to ensure the work is of a high standard and complex processes or strategic issues are well managed.
The work programmes contribute to the broader objectives of the Policy Branch, the work of the Ministry and the priorities of the Government.
The teams sit within the Welfare System and Income Support policy group and you will report to the General Manager of that group.
Mōu – Ngā Pūkenga me ngā Wheako / Skills and experience - Things we are looking for in applicants
- A high level of judgement and a collaborative approach to your work
- Experience producing and recognising high quality policy work
- Experience developing and managing high performing teams, with a focus on fostering a supportive team culture
- Developed skills in building the performance of individuals through coaching and attention to professional development
- Experience leading in a strategic environment and building relationships across a variety of stakeholders
- A good understanding of policy implementation and the issues likely to impact on it
- Knowledge and confidence in one or more areas of social policy
- The ability to guide a team through the legislative process
- Commitment to further strengthening the Māori/Crown relationship in ways such as building your own and your team’s competencies in Te Tiriti analysis and in employing appropriate engagement methods
- An appropriate tertiary qualification or considerable, relevant practical experience
Tā mātou e tuku ana / What we offer
It is important to us to:
- prioritise 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 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.
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
Salary range: $141,109.00 - $175,603.00
How to apply
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: Wednesday 30th July, 2025. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you would like to be considered for both roles or for a specific team.
Joining us
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.
