Harm Prevention Lead, Ports and Harbours

New Zealand Government Joba; Wellington; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Income Protection

Life Insurance

Job summary

MaritimeNZ in Wellington is seeking an experienced Harm Prevention Lead - Ports and Harbours to shape how we work with industry to reduce harm across New Zealand's ports and harbours. You will lead a multi-year programme, use data and sector intelligence to priorities and test interventions that improve safety and resilience, focusing on system-wide change rather than individual incidents.

You will partner with industry leaders, regulators and internal experts to design governance, planning and

Qualifications

• Experience leading large, complex programmes designed to improve outcomes across organisations, industries or systems.
• Strong systems thinking and policy capability, with the ability to identify patterns, root causes and leverage points for change
• Experience using evidence, insights and stakeholder perspectives to design and refine interventions
• An understanding of harm prevention approaches, risk reduction, and behaviour change, approaches or safety improvement frameworks
• Strong programme governance, planning and evaluation skills, with the ability to translate strategic intent into coordinated action
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to bring diverse stakeholders together around shared outcomes

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-year harm prevention programme – consistent with MaritimeNZ’s harm prevention programmes approach.
• Identify priorities and test interventions using data, evidence and sector intelligence to support safer, more resilient outcomes.
• Coordinate governance, planning and evaluation approaches to understand what's working and ensure ongoing value.

Job description

Mō mātou | About UsOur Vision:Preventing Harm.Saving Lives.Securing our Future

We play a key role in the guardianship of NewZealand waterways. We’re bringing together our aroha, work and skills to achieve our outcomes of sustainable supply chains and sectors, safe people and operations, secure ports and ships, and clean seas and waterways.

Our values are about who we are as individuals and the behaviours we expect from each other at MaritimeNZ.

Care|KiaTika-We care for each other and do the right thing

Connect|Kotahitanga-We unite in a common purpose

Courage|KiaMāia-We are brave, capable and confidentMōtōmātouRōpū-About the team The CE Office, Strategy and People Group brings together strategy, governance, performance, and organisational capability to set direction and support delivery across MaritimeNZ. Within this, the External Strategy and Programmes team plays a key role in translating strategy into coordinated, system-wide programmes that deliver meaningful outcomes across the maritime sector.

Tetūnga|Therole

As Harm Prevention Lead-Ports and Harbours, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how MaritimeNZ works with industry to reduce harm across NewZealand's ports and harbours system. This is a strategic programme leadership role focussed on understanding the underlying drivers of harm, identifying where interventions can have the greatest impact, and bringing together the people, evidence and interventions to achieve lasting change.

You’ll lead the continuing development and coordination of a multi-year harm prevention programme – consistent with MaritimeNZ’s harm prevention programmes approach – using data, insights and sector intelligence to identify priorities and test approaches that support safer, more resilient outcomes. Rather than focusing on individual incidents or compliance activities, you’ll take a whole-of-system view, considering the relationships, behaviours, incentives and operating conditions that contribute to harm across the sector.

Working alongside industry leaders (including the Ports Health and Safety Leadership Group), regulators, operational specialists and internal subject matter experts, you’ll lead the programme and help design and coordinate interventions that influence behaviour, strengthen system performance and support sustainable change. You’ll also maintain and where necessary, establish, the governance, planning and evaluation approaches needed to understand what's working, adapt where needed, and ensure the programme continues to deliver value over time.

What you bring

• Experience leading large, complex programmes designed to improve outcomes across organisations, industries or systems.
• Strong systems thinking and policy capability, with the ability to identify patterns, root causes and leverage points for change
• Experience using evidence, insights and stakeholder perspectives to design and refine interventions
• An understanding of harm prevention approaches, risk reduction, and behaviour change, approaches or safety improvement frameworks
• Strong programme governance, planning and evaluation skills, with the ability to translate strategic intent into coordinated action
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to bring diverse stakeholders together around shared outcomes

Mōu|Foryou

We aim to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported with a sense of belonging. We encourage our people to actively contribute to our workplace culture where we all thrive and authentically live our MNZ values.

Upon joining us you’ll receive a full range of benefits including Income Protection & Life Insurance.

Salary range$140,000–$180,000 depending on skills and experience + superannuation.

Applications for this role close 12October2026. Please also note that you must have the legal right to live and work in NewZealand to be considered for this role.

If you have any questions please e‑mail [e-mail]