Senior Advisor Business Service Design and Readiness | Wellington
Date: 20 Oct 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Both permanent and fixed term or secondment opportunities available
- Based at National Office in Wellington (Auckland/Christchurch considered)
About our team | Mō te tīma
New Zealand is changing, and so are we. MSD is transforming to build a smarter, simpler, more responsive welfare system.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape a once-in-a-generation transformation to deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders. Join a multidisciplinary team driving people-led, technology-enabled change at scale.
Business Service Design & Readiness sits within the Transformation Group and helps turn MSD’s future direction into clear, connected and practical designs. The team works across transformation and the wider organisation to bring together customer, service, process, workforce and technology perspectives, supporting decisions that are aligned, evidence informed and ready to move towards delivery.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
As a Senior Advisor you’ll help the Business Service Design and Readiness teams, in transforming how MSD delivers services for New Zealanders. Working in a strategic space with intent to provide practical, customer-centred solutions that are valuable, achievable and directed to delivery. You'll influence transformation decisions, connect with people and provide ideas at a strategic level across the organisation, and help design MSD - Services for the Future.
We are looking for Senior Advisors with experience working at pace on strategic documents and with the ability to contribute to work requiring analysis, high level direction and advice across MSD’s Transformation Programme. Working within established frameworks and guidance, you will help develop strategic direction, recommendations and clear, concise written documents and verbal communication.
You’ll work collaboratively with programme teams and stakeholders to align activity, manage day-to-day dependencies, present information to a range of audiences and be comfortable facilitating groups at various levels of seniority. Along with your ability to build and maintain strong working relationships you’ll show resilience with complex work, conflicting deadlines and ambiguity.
You will be confident in:
- leading and delivering across multiple work items with conflicting timeframes
- providing effective leadership and role model our purpose and principles
- encouraging initiative and commitment to the team’s programme and priorities
- communicating logically, fluently, and succinctly both verbally and in writing to ensure messages are understood, and delivering these to a range of audiences
- fostering positive and co-operative working relationships
- the ability to influence others and motivate people to achieve high levels of performance
- working across multiple disciplines
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga
- experience working at a senior advisory level on either transformational or highly complex work
- proven ability to work collaboratively and responsively in a dynamic and high-profile sector
- proven ability to use and interpret analytic, information and insights in written documentation
- support the development of junior staff
- use initiative to keep work moving
- proven stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and communication skills
- proven ability to work at pace and deliver to tight timeframes
- demonstrated experience to influence without authority and build trusted relationships
- strong communication, planning, and organisational skills in a busy team environment
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga
A copy of the position description can be found here. Senior Advisor, position description
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $103,815.00 - $125,958.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 11.59pm, Wednesday 28 October 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.
