Principal Analyst Data and Evidence | Wellington | Permanent
Date: 5 Mar 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Lead strategic analytics that drive system improvements for disabled people and their whānau
- Influence senior leaders with high-quality insights, trends and evidence-based advice
- Mentor analysts and lift analytical capability across the Data & Evidence function
Bring your analytical leadership to meaningful work that shapes how Disability Support Services (DSS) uses evidence to improve outcomes.
About our team | Mō te tīma:
The Disability Support Services (DSS) Group is responsible for commissioning, funding, and stewarding high-quality services that support disabled people, their families, and whānau.
We’re building leadership and management capacity across our teams to deliver both change and business-as-usual effectively.
We work closely with providers, stakeholders, and communities to ensure services are fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable. With a strong focus on performance monitoring, data, and insights, we’re committed to continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.
It’s an exciting time to join DSS as we strengthen our systems and expand our capabilities.
We’re looking for passionate people to help us achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
As Principal Analyst, you’ll provide intellectual leadership across DSS analytics and insight generation, supporting evidence-informed decisions and improvements across services and the system.
You’ll lead and contribute to cross-group and cross-agency projects, build trusted relationships, and help strengthen analytical capability across the Data & Evidence team.
Key responsibilities include:
- Deliver high-quality analysis, insights and evidence-based recommendations to support senior decision-making
- Lead reporting on trends, systemic issues and root causes, translating findings into learning and improvement actions
- Provide expert advice on complex issues, risks and strategic developments, with sound judgement and influence
- Lead or contribute to Ministry- and sector-driven projects that shape DSS policy and practice
- Champion quality assurance through peer review, coaching and mentoring of analysts and contributors
- Build strong internal and external relationships, including representing the Ministry in significant interagency forums
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:
You’ll be a confident analytical leader who can navigate complexity, connect the dots across systems. You’ll also have:
- The ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Significant expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies, and strong analytical judgement
- Experience leading substantial work programmes and projects, including coordinating inputs and delivering to requirements.
- Proven experience working with administrative data to deliver insights at operational and policy levels
- Advanced technical capability, with experience using tools such as Excel (including Power Query), SQL, and Power BI
- Demonstrated ability to influence and lead behaviour change using data and evidence to guide decisions
- Strong stakeholder management skills, building trusting and respectful relationships across teams and agencies
- A track record of producing high-quality insights and lifting team capability through mentoring and peer support
- Skilled at working through ambiguity to identify root causes, test options, and shape effective solutions in partnership with others.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description can be found here. Principal Analyst position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Sunday 22 March 2026
About us | Mō mātou:
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) 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.
