Director Design

Ministry of Social Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 163,000 - 218,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development in Wellington seeks a Director Design to lead the design and operational policy functions within the Disability Support Services Group, overseeing service models, change initiatives, and key programmes.

You will champion design as a strategic enabler, ensure services are fair, transparent, and sustainable, and lead multidisciplinary teams while partnering with government agencies, NGOs, and the disability community.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of operational practice in complex public service environments.
• Experience translating policy intent into consistent operational implementation.
• Background in service design, systems thinking, and UX methodologies.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams and high performance.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
• Experience applying inclusive design and behavioural insights in public sector environments.
• Political savvy and organisational awareness to influence across a large organisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage high-performing design and operational policy teams.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Oversee lifecycle of new initiatives from prototyping to implementation.
• Develop practice frameworks and guidance for consistent decision-making.
• Establish design standards and frameworks for quality.
• Mentor design capability and communities of practice.
• Collaborate across policy, data, delivery and operations.
• Manage relationships with government agencies, NGOs and disability community.
• Monitor and evaluate design impact using evidence and feedback.

Skills

Operational policy leadership

Design leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy translation into implementation

Multidisciplinary team leadership

Inclusive design and systems thinking

Job description

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• Lead high-performing design and operational policy teams
• Supporting sector adoption of new policies and practice
• Wellington based - Permanent full time opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to influence how services are designed and delivered, working closely with senior leaders, cross-functional teams, and the disability community.

The Disability Support Services (DSS) Group is responsible for commissioning, funding, and stewarding high-quality services that support disabled people, their families, and whānau.

We’re building leadership and management capacity across our teams to deliver both change and business-as-usual effectively.

We work closely with providers, stakeholders, and communities to ensure services are fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable. With a strong focus on performance monitoring, data, and insights, we’re committed to continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.

It’s an exciting time to join DSS as we strengthen our systems and expand our capabilities.

We’re looking for passionate people to help us achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

As Director Design, you will lead the design and operational policy and practice functions, overseeing the development and delivery of service models, change initiatives, and key programmes within the Disability Support Service Group.

You’ll champion design as a strategic enabler, ensuring our services are fair, consistent, transparent, and sustainable.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing high-performing design and operational policy teams.
• Providing strategic advice and guidance to senior leadership.
• Overseeing the lifecycle of new initiatives, including prototyping and implementation.
• Leading the development of practice frameworks and guidance that support consistent decision-making across disability support services
• Establishing design standards and frameworks for consistency and quality.
• Building design capability through mentoring and communities of practice.
• Ensuring operational policy supports successful implementation.
• Collaborating across policy, data, delivery, and operations for integrated service design.
• Managing relationships with external stakeholders including government agencies, NGOs, and the disability community.
• Monitoring and evaluating design impact using evidence and feedback.

We value diversity and welcome applications from disabled people and those who have lived experience with whānau, or the disability community.

Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.

• Demonstrated understanding of operational practice in complex public service environments.
• Experience translating policy intent into consistent operational implementation.
• Previous experience in service design, systems thinking, and UX methodologies.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams and experience building high performing teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
• Experience applying inclusive design, systems thinking, and behavioural insights in complex public sector service environments.
• Political savvy and organisational awareness to influence across a large organisation.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $163,429.00 - $217,905.00

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.

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 [e-mail].

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 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.