Data Analyst (x2)

Ministry of Social Development NZ; Wellington; On-site; NZD 79,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development NZ – Wellington, North Island, is seeking a Data Analyst focused on data quality to enhance data reliability for MSD's Transformation programme. You will work with business and technical teams to identify data quality issues and support practical improvements.

You will define data quality standards, monitor key data, investigate issues, and help ensure data is trusted and fit for purpose to improve reporting and decision-making.

Qualifications

• As a Data Analyst, you will help improve data quality, reliability and value across MSD.
• You will define data quality standards, monitor data, investigate issues and support improvements.
• You will collaborate with data owners, stewards, architects, engineers, and SMEs.

Responsibilities

• Identify data quality issues and their causes, and support solutions to improve data management.
• Define business rules, data requirements and quality controls.
• Develop dashboards or monitoring reports to track data quality.
• Communicate complex information to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Help ensure data is trusted, accurate and fit for purpose for better reporting and decisions.

Skills

SQL skills

Data quality analysis

Data governance knowledge

Analytical skills

Stakeholder communication

Problem-solving

Dashboards

Te Tiriti o Waitangi understanding

Education

Tertiary qualification in data/information management or related field

Job description

Ministry of Social Development NZ – Wellington, North Island

• 24 Months Fixed term/Secondment opportunity

MSD – services for the future is a multi-year programme to transform how we operate so we can deliver for New Zealanders and focus our resources and investment on the people who need it. The programme will make significant changes to our underlying systems, processes, and introduce redesigned services that put people first.

The Information, Data, and Analytics team is leading an ambitious work programme to uplift our data and information capabilities to support the Transformation initiatives, while also establishing Enterprise level standards for BAU. MSD operates within a highly complex data environment, and our focus is on creating trusted foundations that allow data to be managed deliberately and consistently over time. This includes developing the architectural standards, strengthening stewardship and governance, embedding a standardised data quality framework, and establishing master data management practices.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

As a Data Analyst with a focus on data quality, you will help improve the quality, reliability, and value of data across MSD. You will work with business and technical teams to identify data quality issues, understand their causes, and support solutions that improve how data is managed and used.

This role plays an important part in building strong data quality practices across the Ministry. You will help define data quality standards, monitor key data, investigate issues, and support ongoing improvements. Your work will help ensure MSD's data is trusted, accurate, and fit for purpose, enabling better services, reporting, and decision-making.

Working alongside data owners, data stewards, architects, engineers, and subject matter experts, you will contribute to a culture that values high-quality data and continuous improvement.

You are curious, analytical, and enjoy solving problems. You have experience working with data and can confidently investigate issues, identify trends, and provide practical recommendations. You are comfortable working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders and can explain complex information in a clear and simple way.

You will also bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience in data, information management, business analysis, statistics, computer science, or a related field.
• Experience analysing data and identifying data quality issues.
• Strong SQL skills and experience working with large datasets.
• Knowledge of data quality principles, including accuracy, completeness, consistency, validity, uniqueness, and timeliness.
• An understanding of data governance, metadata, and stewardship practices.
• Experience defining business rules, data requirements, and quality controls.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis.
• Experience developing dashboards, scorecards, or monitoring reports.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical information in a business context.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and work collaboratively with a wide range of people.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its importance within the public sector.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of MSD's data and information journey. If you are passionate about data quality and want to help build trusted and reliable information, we encourage you to apply.

Data Analyst Position Description

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $79,200.00 - $95,873.00

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.

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.