Programme Manager | Wellington | Permanent
Date: 26 May 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Wellington-based role reporting directly to the Director Design
- Lead and shape end-to-end service design across high-impact programmes
- Influence strategy while staying close to delivery
This is an opportunity to step into a senior design leadership role where you can shape how design delivers value at scale.
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 a Programme Manager in the Design team, you’ll work closely with other senior colleagues within the Design team including the Director Design to drive a cohesive design approach, lift capability, and ensure solutions are practical, human-centred, and outcomes-focused. It is imperative you collaborate with other teams across DSS.
You’ll lead design direction and delivery across a portfolio of work, providing both strategic advice and hands-on design leadership.
You’ll partner with leaders and delivery teams to embed good design practice and ensure consistency across experiences.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead end-to-end service design across multiple initiatives, from discovery through to delivery
- Provide expert service design advice to senior stakeholders, including the Director Design
- Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional teams and leaders
- Champion human-centred design and ensure solutions meet user and business needs
- Coach and support less experienced colleagues and designers to lift capability and consistency of practice
- Contribute to design strategy, standards, and ways of working
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:
- Strong experience leading service design at scale in complex organisations or programmes
- Proven ability to operate at both strategic and delivery levels Confident working with senior stakeholders and influencing decision-making
- Experience coaching or mentoring others to grow capability
- Skilled in human-centred design or service design disciplines
- Able to translate information into clear, actionable design direction
- Strong collaboration skills across multi-disciplinary teams
- Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced, evolving environment and dealing with ambiguity and complexity
- Strong communication skills including written
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description can be found here. Programme Manager position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Monday 8 June 2026.
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.
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.
