Senior Advisor DSS Advisory
Date: 30 Oct 2025
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Permanent Wellington base role
- Provide expert advice on high and complex needs frameworks
- Build strong partnerships across agencies and sectors
Join a collaborative and forward-thinking team where your strategic insight and stakeholder expertise will help shape best practice approaches across the disability sector.
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 is a pivotal role providing high-quality advice, analysis, and support on strategic partnerships and the High and Complex Framework.
You’ll lead or contribute to projects, policy development, and assurance activities, while building strong relationships with key stakeholders to support continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities include:
- Deliver high-quality advice and analysis on operational and strategic issues
- Lead projects and initiatives related to the High and Complex Framework
- Ensure rigorous standards of analysis and risk assessment
- Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Support review panels and assurance processes through research and reporting
- Contribute to policy, procedure, and best practice development
- Guide strategic advice on cross-agency matters
- Prepare high-level reports for leadership and sector partners
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:
- Proven experience in project management and assurance
- Strategic thinker with experience in policy development or implementation
- Effective communicator with strong influencing skills
- Proven experience building and maintaining stakeholder relationships
- Knowledge of the disability sector ideally with experience in high and complex needs frameworks
- Experience analysing complex data and tailor insights to diverse audiences
- Organised, adaptable, and calm under pressure
- Politically astute with sound judgement and discretion
- Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-focused
- Strong client focus and commitment to inclusive practice
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description can be found here. Senior Advisor DSS Advisory position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $103,815.00 - $125,958.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Wednesday 12 November 2025
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:
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.
