Senior Advisor - Ministry for Youth Development
Date: 13 Oct 2025
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
About us
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.
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.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
• Play an important role in enabling best practice youth development that supports young people to reach their potential
• Contribute to the development, delivery and monitoring of key programmes of work
• Fixed term through to 30 March 2026
• Location options: Wellington National Office, Christchurch or Auckland
We are seeking a self-starter and team player, to contribute to and lead key strategic advice, and projects within the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) – Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi.
You will be working as part of a small and nimble team focused on supporting young people, aged 12 to 24 years, in Aotearoa New Zealand to strengthen their wellbeing, build their resilience, connect with their communities, and thrive.
We are looking for an exceptional candidate to collaborate with the design and delivery of projects, and support a wide range of stakeholders across government agencies, community organisations and young people who partner with MYD to deliver youth development outcomes.
The role supports the Ministries senior leadership team to provide quality advice on high profile issues under tight timeframes and in the context of competing priorities. You will have the opportunity to work with the sector, communities and engage with key stakeholders at a regional and national level to improve outcomes for young people.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
This role will appeal to you if you have:
• A solid understanding of youth development principles, issues of interest to, and impacting on, young people and the youth development sector.
• Proven ability to provide quality, fact based, balanced analysis and strategic advice on a range of specialist issues within specified timeframes.
• Experience and understanding of the governance arrangements in the public sector context within which MYD works and applying it to judgment and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to establish robust relationships and partnerships with national and regional stakeholders.
• Prior experience in working with other government agencies, key stakeholders in the social services sector, Iwi/Māori and Pacific people’s organisations.
• Experience of prioritising in an often busy and complex environment and applying sound judgement when dealing with competing deadlines.
• A willingness to contribute to the development of a positive and proactive team culture, actively supporting the team reaching its full potential.
Natural relationship building and facilitation skills are a must in this role. You will also bring sound understanding in aanalytical thinking capability, with experience in synthesising complex information to support the provision of robust advice.
In addition, you will need a relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent, an ability to work with ambiguity and deliver with pace in a dynamic environment. A working commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the implications of these for the work of the Ministry are important.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $103,815.00 - $125,958.00
How to apply
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.
Closing date: Tuesday 21st October, 2025
Joining us
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. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
MSD has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that encourages, but does not require, employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants, unless the role is identified as requiring vaccination at the time.
