Senior Policy Analyst - Child and Youth Policy
Date: 5 May 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 Policy Analyst - Child and Youth Policy
• Great people & culture
• Permanent role
• Based at the National Office in Wellington
We are seeking a motivated Senior Policy Analyst to join our Child and Youth Policy team at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
Mō te tūnga / About the role
The Child and Youth Policy team has a diverse work programme, which focuses on children and young people up to the age of 24 years old. Some of the areas we’re involved in include providing policy advice to support:
- young people not in education, employment, or training, or young people receiving a Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment through the Youth Service
- children and young people as they transition or age out of Oranga Tamariki care to services provided by MSD, which includes supporting carers of these children through financial assistance and other types of services
- the Children and Young People’s Commission and Independent Children’s Monitor, which together with the Ombudsman have oversight and monitoring of the children’s system, and
- New Zealand’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This team is part of a busy Policy Branch. There’s a great vibe across the Branch where people are focused on delivering high quality policy advice in a positive, supportive team environment. We work hard to ensure policy settings are responsive to the diverse needs and wellbeing of New Zealanders while maintaining a strong focus on staff wellbeing and personal work/life balance. We pride ourselves on investing in developing and supporting staff to reach their full potential.
Mōu / About you
We are looking for someone who will fit our collegial, supportive culture, and have the action orientation to shape and lead on policy work that is a priority for Ministers and our Chief Executive.
Mōu – Ngā Pūkenga me ngā Wheako / Skills and experience
You might be an experienced Senior Policy Analyst or a Policy Analyst who’s looking to make a step up.
You’ll need to have great people skills as you'll be working with stakeholders across our organisation and with other agencies.
You'll need strong analytical and critical thinking ability and excellent judgement.
You'll bring leadership ability, with the skills and an interest in coaching and developing others.
Nōu te rourou / What’s in it for you
We are a large organisation with policies and services that support most New Zealanders at some point in their life – from Childcare Assistance to Public Housing to Superannuation.
We work collaboratively with the service delivery groups of our Ministry and with our policy colleagues across government, to ensure fit for purpose policies – you can see the policies you’ve developed right through to operational implementation.
Our practice is guided by a foundation of shared cultural behaviours that has embedded a positive and supportive working environment.
We are committed to building diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in our workplace.
We can offer flexible working arrangements to suit individual needs.
Position Description
Salary range: $112,372.00 - $136,429.00
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: Sunday the 18th May, 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.
