Portfolio Coordinator - Strategy and Insights
Date: 13 Oct 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.
About our team | Mō te tīma:
Insights MSD is a key group within the Strategy & Insights branch, dedicated to developing and operating advanced data and analytics capabilities. Our mission is to generate actionable insights and provide the tools necessary to support informed decision-making. By leveraging data, information, and evidence, our group is focused on empowering people to make better decisions that ultimately improve the lives of New Zealanders.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
• Wellington based
• Permanent full time
• Grow your expertise and drive key projects forward in this role!
If you're looking to make an impact and grow your career, we’d love to hear from you!
The Portfolio Coordinator plays a key role in supporting the Portfolio Manager and ensuring smooth coordination across a diverse portfolio of work. As one of two coordinators in the team, you’ll help set up and manage systems to track project progress, ensuring alignment with business policies, quality standards, and delivery expectations.
You’ll provide secretariat support for governance committees, maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, and may also lead smaller projects when needed. This role requires someone who is highly organised, proactive, and comfortable working through ambiguity. Your ability to adapt, communicate effectively, and apply coordination skills in a dynamic environment will be essential to keeping things running smoothly.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
• Previous experience in a programme, or project coordinator role, or in an executive assistant, administrative support role.
• Familiarity with Agile methodology or Jira project management tool
• Lead teams through planning ensuring priority initiatives have visibility and resourcing commitments
• Be able to adapt your approach to inspire and support team members with different working styles.
• Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Scheduler, Visio, email), and research tools like the internet and databases.
• Excellent ability to prioritise tasks, manage schedules, meet deadlines, and ensure high-quality service delivery in environments requiring discretion, sensitivity, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships at all levels within the Ministry, and with external agencies or clients, with strong communication skills (written and verbal) adaptable to different audiences.
• Comfortable working in environments of ambiguity and change, with a flexible mindset and the ability to adapt quickly to evolving priorities and contexts
• Good understanding of MSD’s operations, key business groups, and how central Government works, including the role of Parliament, Ministers, and public service agencies.
• Familiarity with Government procurement policies and practices is a plus.
Ready to bring your skills and experience to a dynamic team? Apply now
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $69,519.00 - $84,041.00
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 22nd October, 2025
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.
