Principal Advisor, Te Pae Tawhiti, Wellington
Date: 17 Jan 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.
Principal Advisor, Te Pae Tawhiti
• Unrivalled opportunity at the heart of the Programme Office
• Permanent opportunity
• Wellington based
Be part of MSD’s business transformation as we deliver a once in a generation change to the way MSD delivers services to New Zealanders, and set up MSD for the coming decades.
MSD, through the Te Pae Tawhiti Transformation Programme (the Programme) will change the way it operates, modernise its technology and business processes to support new and more efficient ways of working, and reduce costs and risk.
Achieving our Te Pae Tawhiti vision will be a long-term journey for MSD. The Programme is a major undertaking, delivering significant benefits to over a million New Zealanders who access MSD support and services.
Te āhua o te tūranga / about the role
We are keen to hear from motivated Principal Advisors with a proven track record in policy advice or programme delivery. Or you may be a Senior Advisor with a strong background, ready for your next step.
We’re keen on people who have the action orientation to shape and lead on complex issues and briefings.
We’re looking for great people skills as you’ll be working with stakeholders across our organisation and externally.
In this influential role, you will need to understand machinery of government, know when to ask questions, and be comfortable working with ambiquity – no two days are the same.
This role will put you at the heart of the Programme Office. You will provide high quality, timely, accurate and relevant information and advice to support senior leaders and Ministers. You will be a highly analytical and strategic thinker, able to turn your mind to a variety of complex issues and navigate through ambiguity. You will take the lead on developing key documentation including papers and briefings.
This is an unrivalled opportunity to be involved in MSD’s journey.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako / skills and experience
Suitable candidates will have:
• strong analytical and critical thinking ability and excellent judgement
• amazing written skills, and the ability to distil complex information into plain English
• sound knowledge of Machinery of Government and State Sector processes and systems
• high level of environmental and organisation awareness coupled with political savvy
• experience in the successful delivery of time critical work pieces within a complex work programme
• advisory experience, especially with Senior Executives
• proven experience of managing complex relationships, both internally and externally, with the ability to establish credibility at all levels
• proven experience in working in a fast-paced environment
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: 2 February 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.
