Senior Advisor Ministerial Interface | Wellington | Permanent
Date: 18 Dec 2025
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
- Lead resolution of complex ministerial servicing activities and issues
- Work collaboratively across Disability Support Services while ensuring timely and accurate delivery
- Permanent Wellington-based role
This is your opportunity to lead complex ministerial servicing activities, support team performance, and drive process improvement in a fast-paced, high-trust environment.
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 the Senior Advisor Ministerial Interface, you’ll manage incoming requests, draft and review correspondence, and ensure high-quality, timely responses across a range of ministerial servicing activities.
You’ll also support your manager with team performance and lead improvements to systems and processes.
This permanent role is based at our National Office in Wellington.
Key responsibilities include:
- Manage and deliver high-quality responses to ministerial requests
- Lead resolution of complex issues and provide subject matter expertise
- Support workflow management, coaching, and staff development
- Provide expert advice and training on ministerial servicing
- Build strong relationships with ministerial offices and internal stakeholders
- Analyse correspondence and reporting data to identify trends and risks
- Lead improvements to systems, processes, and knowledge management
- Prepare reports and support media engagement and government responses
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 ministerial servicing, including OIA, Privacy and Public Records Acts
- Strong understanding of Cabinet protocols and public sector communication standards
- Skilled in drafting high-quality documents for senior audiences under pressure
- Experience managing stakeholder input and engagement
- Familiarity with government workflows, document tracking, and approval processes
- Excellent communication skills including written
- Ability to interpret complex information and tailor messaging to diverse audiences
- Awareness of reputational risk and escalation pathways in political contexts
- Proven ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders
- Advisory experience within the public sector, especially in ministerial or executive servicing
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
A copy of the position description ca be found here. Senior Advisor Ministerial Interface position description.
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $103,815.00 - $125,958.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 18 January 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:
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.
