Practice Manager - Analysis and Design | Wellington | Permanent
Date: 22 Apr 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Lead and evolve the Analysis and Design practice at organisational scale
- Build consistent analysis and design capability, quality and standards across MSD
- Influence workforce strategy and delivery outcomes across complex technology environments
Lead and grow MSD’s Analysis and Design practice, ensuring consistent, high quality capability that underpins technology delivery and business outcomes.
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.
Improvement Systems & Technology (IST) 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. IST 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 Practice Manager, Analysis and Design, you will lead a specialist practice within the Improvement, Systems and Technology (IST) group, with accountability for people leadership, capability development, and practice performance.
You will work closely with Practice Leads, delivery leaders and stakeholders to ensure analysis and design capability is fit for purpose, future focused, and consistently applied across platforms and delivery teams.
This is a senior people leadership role focused on practice excellence, workforce capability, and enabling delivery through strong standards, methods and ways of working.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead and develop a team of Analysis and Design Practice Leads and practitioners, with accountability for performance, capability and wellbeing
- Translate the Analysis and Design practice strategy into clear learning, development and career pathways
- Set and uphold analysis and design standards, methods, tools and quality frameworks across the organisation
- Lead workforce planning, talent sourcing and recruitment to meet current and future analysis and design capability needs
- Partner with delivery leaders and stakeholders to enable effective resourcing and high‑quality outcomes
- Benchmark externally to ensure analysis and design practices align with emerging trends, tools and industry best practice
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:
- Extensive professional and technical experience in analysis and design or a closely related practice
- Proven experience in senior people leadership, including coaching, performance management and capability development
- Strong experience developing and implementing practice wide capability and workforce strategies
- Deep understanding of analysis and design methods, tools and quality management in complex delivery environments
- Demonstrated ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across business and technology domains
- Sound knowledge of end to end recruitment and workforce planning in a public sector or large organisation context
- Experience embedding consistent analysis and design ways of working at scale
- Strong understanding of agile and modern delivery practices and how analysis and design integrates across delivery teams
- Highly effective communication skills, with the ability to translate complex and technical information for diverse audiences
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description can be found here. Practice Manager position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $163,784.00 - $203,820.00
We expect to appoint this position between $163,784 - $198,361 however 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: Wednesday 6 May 2026.
About us | Mō mātou:
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.
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, 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.
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.
