Transformation Programme Office Lead | Wellington

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Date: 17 Jul 2026

Location: Wellington, NZ

Company: Ministry of Social Development

 

  • Permanent Role
  • Based at National Office in Wellington

 

About the role | Mō te tūnga

 

Lead a team that contributes to keeping a major transformation on track.

 

Bring your programme oversight, assurance and leadership expertise to a role where your advice, insight and controls will support confident delivery and help MSD make a bigger difference for New Zealanders.

 

Reporting to the Director Transformation Programme Management Office, the Transformation Programme Office Lead provides oversight across the core programme disciplines that support effective delivery, including reporting, risk and dependencies management.

 

The team works closely with programme leadership, delivery leads, and governance forums to provide trusted advice, clear insight into programme health and performance, and consistent ways of working as the programme scales.

 

As Transformation Programme Office Lead, you will provide enterprise-level oversight across programme management activities that enable effective governance, assurance, decision-making and continuous improvement.  You will lead a team of Programme Advisory and Coordination Specialists responsible for reporting and analysis, quality assurance, risk and dependency management, continuous improvement and change control. You will ensure programme information, controls and processes are robust, fit-for-purpose and support successful delivery of transformation outcomes.

 

This role is based at National Office in Wellington and reports to the Director, Transformation Programme Office.

 

  • Lead quality assurance across key programme controls, delivery artefacts, plans and processes.
  • Oversee programme-level risk, dependency and issue management, including active management and escalation where appropriate.
  • Ensure effective change control, including visibility, impact assessment and decision tracking.
  • Ensure high-quality programme reporting and analysis that provides timely, accurate and meaningful insight into delivery progress, risks and issues.
  • Provide sound advice and assurance to programme leaders and senior stakeholders on programme performance, risks and delivery confidence.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing advisory team with clear roles, accountabilities and professional development pathways.

 

 

What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga

 

You will bring strong programme office leadership experience, sound judgement and the ability to provide clear, practical advice in a complex transformation environment. You will be comfortable working with senior leaders, governance stakeholders and delivery teams, and turning programme information into insight that supports good decisions.

 

  • Demonstrated experience leading programme management or critical programme control functions for a transformation programme management office in a large, complex organisation.
  • Proven experience providing senior-level advice on programme performance, risks, issues, dependencies and change impacts.
  • Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to build trust and support collaboration across senior leaders, governance stakeholders and delivery teams.
  • Experience working within or alongside the public sector, with an understanding of governance structures, accountability requirements and the machinery of government.
  • Strong leadership capability, including experience building teams, embedding consistent ways of working and maintaining performance through significant change.
  • Experience in strategic planning, operational management, project management, financial management and performance monitoring.
  • A commitment to embedding Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi considerations into leadership and decision-making.

 

 

What's in it for you | Nōu te rourou

 

This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role in a significant transformation programme, strengthening the controls, insight and ways of working that support delivery confidence and effective governance.

 

You will lead a trusted advisory function, work with senior stakeholders across MSD, and contribute to work that helps make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future.

 

 

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00

 

Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 2 August 2026

 

About us | Mō mātou

 

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) 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 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.

 

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono

 

Before you submit your application, please take a moment to review our guidance to understand how AI can best support your application. Candidate Guidance - Responsible AI use in recruitment

 

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. Please highlight how your skills and experience relate to the key responsibilities listed in the position description and job advertisement.

 

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.

 

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. You can find out more about our values here.

 

If you have any support or accessibility requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.