Principal Advisor DSS Transformation | Wellington | Fixed term ending 30 June 2027

About our team | Mō te tīma

The Disability Support Services Group (DSS) has been established to ensure fairer access to disability support services in New Zealand, ensuring those with the greatest needs receive quality support services.

The Transformation team is in place to continue work to strengthen DSS services for the future following the implementation of the independent review recommendations.

The work ahead aims to:

• provide disabled people with certain and consistent access to DSS, no matter what their circumstances or where they live in New Zealand
• prioritise funding for disabled people with the highest needs, and those who would benefit most from early intervention support,
• ensure that Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles are put into practice
• ensure that the long-term sustainability of DSS is strengthened to provide disabled people and carers with services that are consistent, fair and affordable.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

Reporting to the General Manager DSS Transformation, you will provide strategic, operational, technical and analytical leadership across the business group and wider Ministry.

You will work with a high degree of autonomy to deliver authoritative, system-level advice, support effective governance, and ensure alignment across programmes and priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic advice to the General Manager on Transformation programme priorities, governance and engagement with the DSS leadership team
• Ensure strong integration and alignment across the Transformation programme and other programmes of work, including implementation, planning, funding and monitoring
• Represent the General Manager and DSS in cross-agency forums, engaging with senior leaders across government and the sector
• Deliver authoritative advice to senior leaders and governance groups, shaping the direction and implementation of policy, major initiatives and organisational change
• Develop and influence business group strategy, frameworks and approaches, ensuring alignment with government and organisational priorities
• Identify and manage system-level risks, issues and dependencies, providing strategic mitigation advice and ensuring appropriate escalation

We value diversity and welcome applications from disabled people and those who have lived experience with whānau, or the disability community.

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

• Significant experience advising senior leaders and Ministers within a government department or Crown entity
• Proven ability to provide authoritative advice on complex, ambiguous and politically sensitive issues
• Extensive experience interpreting and applying complex policy, legislation and organisational frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to influence and engage a wide range of senior and cross-agency stakeholders
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to connect system-level insights to organisational priorities
• Experience supporting governance processes and preparing high-quality materials that enable effective decision-making
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences
• Proven ability to lead through complexity, using sound judgement to develop practical, evidence-informed solutions
• Experience identifying emerging risks, opportunities and system-level trends and translating these into strategic advice
• A commitment to mentoring others and building organisational capability through guidance and best practice

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga

A copy of the position description can be found here. Principal Advisor Transformation position description.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00