Programme Manager | Wellington | Fixed term ending 30 June 2028
Date: 12 Aug 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Lead a high-profile workforce development programme that supports the safeguarding of disabled people and responds to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
- Influence change across the care sector with a focus on early actions in disability care settings to build safeguarding capability.
- Build enduring partnerships with providers, government agencies, communities and tangata whaikaha.
Join Disability Support Services (DSS) and lead a significant programme that will strengthen sector workforce capability, improve safeguarding practices, and help deliver lasting change for disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, whānau, and communities across Aotearoa.
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
This exciting leadership opportunity sits within the Quality Assurance and Improvement team and is responsible for leading the delivery of a sector workforce development programme focused on safeguarding. The work is in response to findings from Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
Working closely with the DSS Clinical Lead and Principal Advisor Workforce Development, you will provide strategic programme leadership, oversee complex projects and dependencies, and lead a team delivering initiatives that support workforce capability building across the disability sector.
This is a fixed-term, full-time role ending 30 June 2028 and is based in our Wellington office.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead the planning, governance, procurement and successful implementation of a complex workforce development programme.
- Establish and maintain programme structures, methodologies, reporting, and assurance processes that support successful outcomes.
- Manage programme risks, issues, dependencies, budgets, and delivery milestones.
- Provide strategic advice and programme leadership to DSS, government agencies, providers, and sector stakeholders.
- Build strong partnerships across the disability sector to support collaboration and workforce capability outcomes.
- Lead and develop team members while fostering a strengths-based, high-performing culture.
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 leading complex programmes or portfolios of work in large organisations, preferably with experience of disability settings and in-depth knowledge of the Royal Commission of Inquiry response programme
- Strong programme and project management expertise, including experience working across multiple workstreams and dependencies.
- Experience applying programme and project delivery frameworks such as Agile, Waterfall, or Better Business Case methodologies.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and influencing skills.
- Proven ability to provide strategic advice, navigate complexity, and exercise sound judgement in sensitive environments.
- Strong experience managing programme risks, governance, reporting, and quality assurance processes.
- Knowledge of workforce development, service improvement, quality improvement, or human-centred design approaches.
- A commitment to improving outcomes for disabled people and an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable service delivery.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga
A copy of the position description can be found here. Programme Manager Sector Workforce Development position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Friday 21 August 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 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.
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. Please highlight how your skills and experience relate to the key responsibilities listed in the position description and job advertisement.
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.
