Case Manager | Kaituitui - Nelson

Ministry of Social Development; Nelson; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking a Case Manager to support New Zealanders navigating employment changes, housing transitions, and financial stress. You’ll connect people with the right services while upholding integrity and policy.

This role emphasizes manaaki tangata and working within a trusted, results‑driven team. Join a nationwide public service that values care, collaboration, and practical problem‑solving.

Qualifications

• You’ll put clients at the centre — listening deeply, responding with care, and helping people move forward in a way that works for them.
• You’ll bring a high level of personal integrity, initiative, and self-management.
• You’ll also need to be fast and accurate with data entry, and confident with technology.
• You’ll be empathetic, professional, and able to hold space for real-life challenges while applying policy.
• You’ll be a clear communicator, able to build trust and explain things simply.
• You’ll be adaptable and steady in high volumes and changing circumstances.
• You’ll work well as a strong team player, grounded and dependable.
• You’ll be comfortable with numbers and detail for complex payments and entitlements.

Responsibilities

• Supporting someone recently out of work to access income, training, or employment.
• Helping a whānau explore housing options and coordinating follow-ups.
• Encouraging digital self-service and building client confidence with online tools.
• Managing a busy caseload across multiple systems while keeping accurate notes.
• Referring clients to external providers and working collaboratively with others.
• Meeting with your team to reflect, troubleshoot, and support each other.

Skills

Data entry

Tech literacy

Empathy

Communication

Adaptability

Teamwork

Numeracy

Job description

This is real work that changes lives — including your own.

Case Managers are the face of public service at the frontline. You’ll work with New Zealanders navigating challenging life situations, such as employment changes, housing transitions, or financial stress, and help connect them to the right support at the right time.

This is complex, high trust mahi. You’ll be making decisions that impact whānau and communities, balancing empathy and policy, speed and accuracy. If you value people, process, and purpose, and can bring calm to complexity — this could be the role for you.

What you’ll need to succeed | Ko tō āhua

You’ll put clients at the centre — listening deeply, responding with care, and helping people move forward in a way that works for them. You’ll bring a high level of personal integrity, initiative, and self-management.

You’ll also need to be:

• Fast and accurate with data entry – getting the detail right matters.
• Confident with technology – navigating multiple systems and supporting clients to do the same.
• Empathetic and professional – able to hold space for real-life challenges while applying policy.
• A clear communicator – someone who can build trust, explain things simply, and make good decisions.
• Adaptable and steady – comfortable with change, high volumes, and problem-solving on the go.
• A strong team player – grounded, dependable, and collaborative.
• Comfortable with numbers and detail – able to complete complex calculations related to payments, dates, and entitlements.

A day in the life:

• Supporting someone recently out of work to access income, training, or employment.
• Helping a whānau explore housing options and coordinating follow-ups.
• Encouraging digital self-service and building client confidence with online tools.
• Managing a busy caseload across multiple systems while keeping accurate notes.
• Referring clients to external providers and working collaboratively with others.
• Meeting with your team to reflect, troubleshoot, and support each other.

What you’ll be part of:

• You’ll join a public service organisation committed to manaaki tangata, manaaki whānau — helping New Zealanders to be safe, strong, and independent.
• You’ll deliver integrated support across income, housing, and employment — helping clients navigate life transitions and connect to the right services, at the right time.
• You’ll be part of a team that upholds public trust and lives our values: working with integrity, partnering for impact, and standing up for the people we serve.
• Applications close: 11.59pm on Wednesday, 16th September 2026
• Recruitment and Selection process: Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short video confidence skills test. Candidates who are successful at this stage will progress to the interview stage.
• Estimated start date: Late November 2026

Applicants must hold New Zealand Citizenship, Permanent Residency or Australian Citizenship at time of application.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $69,519.00 - $84,041.00

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.

You do not need to submit a cover letter. Instead, you'll be asked to respond to two short questions as part of the application form (each with a 2000-character limit).

• What attracts you to the Case Manager role, and what skills, experience, and qualities do you bring?
• Manaakitanga is about showing care, respect and generosity. How might you demonstrate this in your work as a Case Manager?

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.