Principal Analyst (two permanent roles)
Date: 8 Mar 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
• Help build a new policy team from the ground up
• Shape how policy intent is translated into MSD’s future services
• Contribute to one of MSD’s largest programmes of change
Come join our high performing policy branch! We have supportive leaders, a collaborative culture, value work life balance and professional development.
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.
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:
MSD is transforming how it delivers services to New Zealanders. This is more than system or process change — it is about improving how people experience our services and ensuring we can deliver policy changes faster, more safely and more consistently over time.
A Transformation Policy function has been established to ensure that as MSD modernises services and systems, policy intent, legislative settings and Ministerial expectations are deliberately and consistently reflected in emerging design work. The team provides the policy architecture, guardrails and judgement that enable large-scale change to move quickly, safely and coherently, working alongside (but not owning) delivery and technical design.
About the roles | Mō te tūnga:
Are you interested in complex, system-level policy work that shapes how services operate in practice? We are seeking two motivated Principal Policy Analysts to join a newly established Transformation Policy team at MSD.
Reporting to the Director, Transformation Policy, you will lead significant programmes of work at the interface of policy, service design and delivery. These roles will influence decisions that shape how MSD operates for years to come, and will help ensure future services remain grounded in clear policy intent, statutory integrity and Ministerial expectations.
This is a rare opportunity to help build a new team from the ground up — including shaping its focus, ways of working and the policy “guardrails” that allow design and delivery teams to move at pace.
We are seeking Principals with strengths across two closely connected areas of work: policy system architecture and design and delivery integration. These are not separate roles. Principals will contribute across both areas, with the opportunity to lean into their strengths and build breadth over time as the programme evolves.
Policy system architecture and foundations
You will help establish and maintain the system-wide policy framing that underpins large-scale change. This includes developing clear policy outcomes and design principles, clarifying core welfare constructs (for example income, eligibility, entitlement, discretion and evidence expectations), and identifying policy limits and thresholds — including where escalation or Ministerial visibility is required.
Design and delivery policy integration
You will engage directly with design and delivery work to surface policy implications early, test emerging approaches against policy intent and legislative settings, and work with partners (including service delivery, legal and technical teams) to resolve trade-offs and constraints in a way that supports momentum while maintaining policy integrity.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
We’re keen to hear from experienced and motivated policy professionals with strong judgement and a track record of leading complex work.
You will bring:
• Principal-level policy experience, with the ability to lead significant programmes of work and deliver high-quality advice in complex environments
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, sound judgement, and the ability to work through trade-offs where information may be incomplete
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complexity into clear implications, options and recommendations for senior leaders
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively across disciplines and organisational boundaries
• Leadership capability, including coaching and developing others and contributing to a positive, high-performing team culture
• Action orientation — you can progress work at pace while maintaining quality and integrity
Experience working in and around large programmes of change, operational policy, legislative settings or service design would be an advantage, but is not essential. We are most interested in how you think, how you work with others, and how you apply judgement.
You’ll also have a commitment to Māori and to building capability in Te Tiriti analysis and applying Māori frameworks in policy advice.
What we offer | Tā mātou e tuku ana:
Why join / what you’ll get exposure to:
You’ll get exposure to system-wide decisions that shape how MSD policy is applied in practice — including how cross-cutting concepts are treated consistently across services, how legislative settings translate into operational choices, and how senior leaders navigate trade-offs between speed, integrity, equity and client experience. You’ll work closely with a wide set of partners and have a clear line of sight to the decisions that matter.
It is important to us to:
• prioritise your wellbeing and development
• provide a flexible working environment where you can learn from a supportive and collegial team of experienced policy professionals
• develop your career though the opportunities that come from a broad and varied work programme and our commitment to your ongoing professional development
• collaborate and support each other and we make sure everyone has the chance to develop and to take on new challenges
• value diversity of thinking and background – this informs the creation of responsive policy that reflects the communities we serve.
MSD has several employee-led networks that build a sense of community for our people so that they can contribute, belong and thrive. Our employee-led networks include, but are not limited to:
• National Office Māori Staff Network - Te Tini ō te Raurearea
• Disablednetwork@MSD
• Proud@MSD
• Women’s Network
• Pan Asian Network.
MSD is a CareWise employer. We commit to showing manaaki to people in our MSD whānau with caring commitments.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono:
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: Monday 23rd March, 2026.
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. 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.
