Deputy Secretary, Enabling Services And Chief Operating Officer

The Treasury; Wellington; On-site; NZD 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

The Treasury in Wellington invites a seasoned senior leader to join its Executive Leadership team as Deputy Secretary, Enabling Services and Chief Operating Officer. You will shape strategic debate, drive system-wide change, and build trusted relationships with Ministers, the public sector, and the private sector.

Lead enterprise-wide services, strengthen capability, and guide governance, technology and workplaces to deliver better public outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven track record shaping complex public policy and leading Transformational change.
• Exceptional relationship management with senior officials in government and industry.
• Strong strategic, economic and financial skills with public sector insight.

Responsibilities

• Shape strategic debate across policy areas and drive system-wide change.
• Lead enterprise-wide services and improve governance, technology and workplaces.
• Build trusted relationships with Ministers and stakeholders across sectors.

Skills

Senior leadership

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Policy development

Public sector knowledge

Education

Postgraduate qualification in economics/finance/public administration

Job description

Shape New Zealand’s Future – Join the Treasury’s Executive Leadership team.

About Us | Mō mātou

As we look ahead to 0 – the th anniversary of The Treasury (Te Tai Ōhanga), we are positioning ourselves to meet the evolving opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand. Guided by our vision of lifting living standards for all New Zealanders, we have embarked on a bold programme of transformation to ensure a thriving and resilient Treasury for generations to come.

We’re the Government’s principal economic and financial advisor and our talented people bring their diverse backgrounds and experiences to tackle New Zealand’s biggest and most inter-connected issues. Every day, they are influencing, advising, and supporting Ministers and public sector leaders.

About the Role | Kōrero mō te tūranga

The Deputy Secretary, Enabling Services and Chief Operating Officer role is critical to shaping New Zealand’s economic future, driving strategic debate, delivering system change, and building trusted relationships internally and externally across the Government, Private Sector, and Communities.

As a key member of the Treasury’s executive leadership team, you will:

• Shape the strategic debate across key policy areas and integrate insights across the organisation.
• Provide thought leadership internally and externally and engage extensively with the private sector and wider community.
• Deliver system-wide leadership across the public sector.
• Build trusted relationships with Ministers.
• Drive organisational transformation and change, foster organisational performance, capability, and engagement, and continuously enhance the Treasury’s ability to tackle New Zealand’s fiscal and economic challenges.

You’ll provide enterprise‑wide leadership, setting a clear vision for how the Treasury is supported to perform at its best. This role calls for a decisive, people‑centred leader who can build high‑performing teams, strengthen organisational capability, and drive continuous improvement across systems, governance, technology and workplaces. Partnering closely with business leaders, Ministers and stakeholders, the role will bring calm, strategic leadership to planning, performance and risk management, while championing collaboration and accountability across shared services to deliver better outcomes for government.

About You | Ō pūmanawa

We’re looking for an experienced senior leader who brings:

• A proven record of developing and delivering complex public policy and leading transformative organisational and system change.
• Exceptional relationship management skills, backed by credibility working with senior officials in Government, the private sector, and the community.
• Strong strategic, economic, and financial skills, coupled with a deep understanding of public sector systems and/or commercial performance.
• Proven experience driving organisational transformation and change.
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusion and a collaborative leadership style that fosters innovation, a culture of high performance, capability, and engagement.
• A postgraduate qualification and proven experience in economics, finance, public administration, or a related field.

What we Offer | Ko ngā hua

We offer you the unique chance to be at the forefront of shaping solutions to make New Zealand a better place today and in the future. As a system leader, you’ll get to influence policy and collaborate across the wider public sector and get to partner with a range of Ministers, Public and Private Sector leaders and the Community.

This role offers an unparalleled chance to make a lasting impact on New Zealand through transformative leadership and public service.