Principal Advisor - Strategy, Investment and Organisational Performance
Date: 9 May 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 – Strategy, Investment and Organisational Performance
• Wellington based
• 2 year - Casual fixed term role
• Bring your expertise to this key Principal Advisor role.
If you are seeking a role where you can make use of your expertise relevant to reporting on poverty, inequality and material hardship, we would love to hear from you.
Mō te tīma / About our team
The team leads the development of the Ministry’s accountability documents, and organisational performance measurement frameworks and reporting. We provide strategic advice on social investment and stewardship matters, and lead work on crown entity monitoring and appointments. Our stewardship work includes reporting on the incomes and material wellbeing of New Zealanders of all ages with a special focus on child poverty, and contributing to labour market and income support advice.
Mō te tūnga / About the role
As a Principal Advisor, you will provide senior-level expertise. This role offers an opportunity for those with deep specialist knowledge and skills
You will work with another Principal Advisor and support projects that are complex, high-risk, or critical to the Ministry’s success, ensuring that issues are worked through carefully and that risks are managed appropriately.
This role will support the production of MSD’s Household Incomes, Child Poverty and Material Wellbeing Reports. You will also contribute to the preparation of customised survey-based analysis to support policy work, especially child poverty.
The two-year timeframe for this role will help ensure MSD can continue to deliver on these projects, and other related work that has recently become necessary.
The casual nature of the role reflects its ‘as and when required’ requirements, to fit in with the delivery schedules of the key pieces of work noted above. The weekly hours will vary over the period to a cumulative maximum of around 95 8-hour days in each year.
Mōu – Ngā Pūkenga me ngā Wheako / Skills and experience
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
• Comprehensive knowledge and proven expertise, including:
- senior SAS coding competence
- good knowledge of Stats NZ’s HES, Net Worth and GSS datasets, including their limitations for reporting on household financial and material wellbeing
- a working knowledge of the standard methodologies for reporting on poverty, inequality and material hardship
- the ability to succinctly synthesise results from complex investigations of the raw data.
• Proven senior-level experience in information analysis, with the ability to integrate findings into policy work.
• A demonstrated commitment to maintaining and developing specialist skills and knowledge in your areas of expertise.
• Strong analytical skills, sound judgement, and the ability to select effective options, delivering high-quality, balanced analysis and advice on complex issues within set timeframes.
• The ability to provide constructive feedback and model professional standards of quality information analysis and advice.
• A results-oriented approach, with motivation, persistence, and a focus on innovation and creativity.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to contribute to collective goals and maintain trusted relationships.
• A tertiary qualification at a postgraduate level in a relevant discipline, or relevant practical experience.
We encourage you to apply if you are looking for a senior specialist opportunity where your specialist expertise will make a real impact.
Position Description
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: Thursday 15th May, 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.
