Senior Project Manager, Transformation, Wellington
Date: 11 Feb 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
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.
Join MSD’s flagship transformation programme, MSD – services for the future, and help shape how we deliver services to New Zealanders for the next 30 years.
MSD – services for the future is about MSD’s future role and how we can make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders. It will help us achieve the shifts we want to make to achieve our strategic goal, Te Pae Tawhiti.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
- Permanent role, based at National Office in Wellington
Make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders. Help shape the future of social services.
At MSD, we are embarking on a bold transformation to deliver improved outcomes for all New Zealanders. MSD – services for future sets the direction for how we work differently, partner more effectively, and ensure our services are accessible, integrated and people-centred across employment, housing and income support.
We’re looking for a Senior Project Manager to join the MSD – services for the future Transformation Programme Office – a team at the heart of this exciting, multi-year change journey.
As Senior Project Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in coordinating delivery across the Business Design of a complex transformation programme. You’ll work with Delivery Leads and other Project Managers to align programme delivery plans, manage dependencies, and ensure delivery is cohesive, timely, and effective. You’ll bring strategic thinking, practical project delivery experience, and a collaborative leadership style to guide both people and processes.
You’ll be comfortable navigating agile, waterfall, and hybrid methodologies, and thrive in a fast-paced, adaptive environment. From senior leaders to vendors, you’ll work with a wide range of stakeholders to manage risk, resolve conflicts, and maintain delivery confidence at all stages.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the integration of programme delivery plans across multiple workstreams ensuring there is a clear path between strategy and delivery.
- Resolve delivery conflicts and ensure alignment with overall programme goals.
- Provide expert project management leadership to support on-time, in-scope delivery.
- Engage strategically with stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
- Provide expert advice and support leaders in developing and managing delivery plans.
- Identify and mitigate risks and interdependencies across the programme.
- Develop and implement programme methodologies and standards.
What you'll bring
- Significant experience in senior project management, ideally within the public sector.
- Expertise across agile, waterfall and hybrid project methodologies.
- Experience with start-up and design phases of business projects including policy, business architecture, blueprinting and service design.
- Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and can work out delivery approaches that turn concepts into discrete pieces of work.
- You will be adept at collaborative scoping, planning and delivery Flexibility and resilience to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change with business needs
- A strong delivery focus to lead and manage multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams to deliver high quality outcomes in a complex and fast-pace programme of work
- Drives adoption of new ways of working within the programme and the business.
- Ability to develop an analytical approach for resolving problems.
- A business analyst background may be advantageous.
- PMI qualification (or equivalent) and experience using Jira.
Why join us?
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a generational change programme that will leave a lasting legacy for the communities we serve. You’ll be part of a dynamic and supportive team, working with purpose, challenge, and the opportunity to influence real change.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00
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: 25 February 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.
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.
