GM Engagement, Data and Innovation - Secondment Opportunity

New Zealand Government Joba; Wellington; On-site; NZD 205,000 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government in Wellington seeks a senior leader to head enabling services across Identity and Regulatory workstreams, ensuring complex, multi-product initiatives run smoothly while BAU services perform and evolve.

You will work with General Managers and senior leaders to set direction, align priorities, and deliver outcomes that matter, requiring Top Secret clearance and New Zealand citizenship.

Qualifications

• Experience leading diverse enabling functions (service design, data & insights, policy, continuous improvement).
• Proven ability to support large-scale change programmes while maintaining operational performance.
• Track record of driving productivity and service outcomes across BAU operations.
• Experience designing target operating models for sustainable delivery.
• Ability to navigate complexity and influence cross‑organisational priorities.
• Top Secret security clearance and New Zealand citizenship are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead enabling functions at the heart of Identity and Regulatory services to enable multi-product initiatives.
• Ensure business-as-usual operations continue to perform and evolve.
• Work with General Managers and senior leaders to align efforts and deliver outcomes.
• Balance strategic goals with operational realities in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Enabling functions leadership

Change programme delivery

Productivity improvements

Target operating models

Cross-boundary collaboration

Top Secret clearance

NZ citizenship

Job description

Senior Public Sector Leadership secondment opportunity to 30 June 2027

About Us | Mō mātou

Within the Regulatory and Identity Services (RIS) Taituarā branch, the Engagement, Data and Innovation (EDI) group develops new products, services and operational policy to advance RIS Branch priorities. Our Data & Insights teams utilise our data and analytics expertise to inform operational and policy decisions and risk-based regulation, while owning our key regulatory systems.

The role | Te tūnga

We're looking for an exceptional senior leader to lead the enabling functions that sit at the heart of our Identity and Regulatory services through to July 2027. This is not a project management role. Instead, you'll lead the critical services that enable the successful delivery of complex, multi-product and multi-system initiatives, while ensuring our business-as-usual operations continue to perform and evolve. You'll thrive in a fast-paced environment where competing priorities are the norm, working alongside General Managers and senior leaders to align effort, set direction, and deliver outcomes that matter.

What you bring | Nōu te rourou

• You’ll have experience in:
• Leading diverse enabling functions, including service design, data and insights, operational policy, and continuous improvement.
• Supporting the delivery of large-scale change programmes while maintaining a strong focus on operational performance.
• Driving initiatives that improve productivity, efficiency, and service outcomes across business-as-usual operations.
• Designing and implementing target operating models that enable organisations to deliver sustainably into the future.
• Working across organisational boundaries to influence priorities, build alignment, and achieve shared outcomes.
• Navigating complexity and balancing strategic goals with operational realities.
• Must currently hold Top Secret security clearance
• Must be a New Zealand Citizen

What sets you apart

You're a strategic thinker with strong systems awareness and a deep understanding of how enabling services contribute to organisational success. You can see the bigger picture, build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, and bring people together to solve complex challenges.Most importantly, you're passionate about creating the foundations that allow teams, programmes, and services to deliver their best work.If you're motivated by complexity, collaboration, and the opportunity to shape the future of public service delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

The appointing range for this role $204,651 - $254,676.

Applications for this role close Tuesday 6th October 2026

Please contact Jo Attewell at [e-mail] if you have any questions.