Senior Data Scientist - Evidence and Effectiveness
Date: 27 Aug 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.
Senior Data Scientist - Evidence and Effectiveness
- Permanent | Full-time | Wellington
Undertake advanced analytics and evaluations to directly shape MSD’s employment policies and improve outcomes for New Zealanders.
We’re seeking a Senior Data Scientist with a strong statistics or econometrics background to join MSD’s Employment Insights team. This is a rare opportunity to combine rigorous quantitative analysis with real-world policy impact. Your work will directly inform decisions that improve employment outcomes across Aotearoa.
Te āhua o te tūranga / About the role
In this role, you will apply advanced analytical techniques to evaluate employment initiatives, understand labour market dynamics, and support evidence-based policy design. Your work will include:
• Undertaking quantitative evaluations and causal/timeseries analysis to assess programme effectiveness.
• Identifying opportunities to optimise employment investment for maximum impact.
• Working with large datasets including Stats NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI).
• Analysing labour market and economic trends, to identify factors affecting employment outcomes and inform policy responses and investment decisions.
• Supporting MSD’s data warehouse transition and streamlining analytical processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and the timely delivery of high-quality insights.
This role is for someone who thrives on solving real-world problems with rigorous quantitative methods, can communicate technical insights clearly to non-technical audiences, and enjoys helping others develop their analytical skills.
You’ll work closely with policy and delivery teams to ensure that evidence informs decisions and programme design.
You'll be part of a dedicated team of experienced mixed methods specialists who share your passion for making a meaningful impact across Aotearoa.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako / Skills and experience
To be successful in the role you’ll need:
• Experience applying a mix of quantitative and statistical techniques to analyse and evaluate employment outcomes (e.g. propensity score matching, predictive modelling, regression analysis).
• Strong ability to interpret and communicate complex data, identify patterns, visualise findings effectively, and present clear, actionable insights to diverse audiences.
• Expertise in SQL, R, Python, and data visualisation tools (e.g. Power BI), with experience handling large survey or administrative datasets, including the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI).
• Experience streamlining or automating analytical workflows to improve efficiency, scalability, and the timely delivery of findings.
• A strong grasp of economic and labour market dynamics, with understanding of the broader policy and decision-making context.
• Knowledge of evaluation frameworks and design (e.g. Theory of Change and monitoring frameworks).
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to mentor others, lead key pieces of work, and contribute to the strategic direction of our analytical work.
Important information
• This is a full-time role that requires a strong office presence. While some flexibility may be available, we are looking for someone who will be actively engaged on-site as part of the team.
• As part of the recruitment process, candidates will undergo a pre-technical test, a panel interview, and a final interview with the General Manager.
Position Description
Salary range: $119,586.00 - $145,235.00
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 9th September, 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.
