Senior Business Analyst - Data (multiple roles)
Date: 14 May 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
• Two-year secondment/fixed-term position, Wellington-based.
• Help shape the future of how data works for New Zealanders
We’re looking for multiple Business Analysts with experience in the data domain. You’ll play a pivotal role in our transformation programme, MSD - services for the future. This role sits at the crossroads of business change, data mastery, data quality, data maturity, and large-scale transformation. You’ll help define how critical data is structured, governed, migrated, and trusted across MSD. From facilitating discovery workshops to defining data quality rules and migration strategies, you’ll make complex data meaningful, and usable, for the people and services that rely on it most.
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.
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 our team | Mō te tīma:
MSD – services for the future is a multi-year programme to transform how we operate so we can deliver for New Zealanders and focus our resources and investment on the people who need it. The programme will make significant changes to our underlying systems, processes, and introduce redesigned services that put people first.
The Information, Data, and Analytics team is leading an ambitious work programme to uplift our data and information capabilities to support the Transformation initiatives, while also establishing Enterprise level standards for BAU. MSD operates within a highly complex data environment, and our focus is on creating the foundations that allow data to be managed deliberately and consistently over time. This includes developing an enterprise data model, strengthening stewardship and governance, embedding a standardised data quality framework, and establishing master data management practices.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
We are seeking Business Analysts with the following experience:
• Data transformation - translating complex data needs into clear requirements, enabling scalable, insight-driven change across people, processes, and technology.
• Data quality – supporting enterprise data quality uplift to measure, monitor and remediate critical data issues in a standardised way across the enterprise
• Data mastery - new data models, building data patterns and providing business visibility of our data assets. Our focus is on supporting a coexistence strategy and enabling data management across the organisation.
They will work closely with stakeholders, product owners, architects, delivery leads and delivery teams to understand business objectives, identify gaps and translate complex requirements into clear functional and technical specifications.
Key responsibilities include:
• Discovery & facilitation: Run workshops, define problem statements, outcomes, and acceptance measures.
• Conduct research and analysis to inform solution options, decision logs, Options papers
• Identify, document, model and validate business requirements and contribute to key design documents.
• Gather and analyse business processes and rules, identifying opportunities for improvement or automation
• Prepare impact assessments and assist with testing
• Contribute to logical/conceptual designs from requirements
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships and clear communication
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
• Proven experience as a Business Analyst in the data domain (preferably in a transformation context)
• Experience with rule defintion
• Suitable facilitation skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Confidence communicating to audiences of varied levels of expertise
• Experience translating business needs into testable requirements
• Ability to assess and prioritise workstreams within a project
• Expertise in requirements management and documentation
• Familiarity with public sector processes and governance
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills to a senior level
• Proficiency with tools such as Word, Excel, Jira, Confluence, and SharePoint
• AI/analytics product awareness (use case triage, metrics, guardrails, rollback)
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
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.
Closing date: Wednesday 27th May, 2026.
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. 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.
