Implementation Lead

New Zealand Government; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 153,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free life insurance

5 weeks annual leave

15 days sick leave

Professional development opportunities

Employee-led networks

Job summary

WorkSafe New Zealand | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa is seeking an Implementation Lead to roll out a national Engagement Specialist function. You will manage a distributed team, design the operating model and establish governance and accountability to support long-term success.

The role emphasizes people leadership, change management, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure smooth transition and durable improvements across communities, businesses, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing operating models or major organizational changes.
• Strong people leadership and capability-building skills.
• Experience leading teams through transition and uncertainty.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management capability.
• Ability to influence across multiple groups and build alignment.
• Strong implementation, project delivery and change leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the Engagement Specialist function.
• Establish sustainable operating practices, governance and workflows.
• Support and develop Engagement Specialists through organisational change.
• Build strong relationships with regional leaders, managers and stakeholders.
• Clarify accountabilities, expectations and ways of working.
• Identify implementation challenges and create practical solutions.
• Prepare the model for transition into future reporting arrangements.

Skills

Operating model implementation

People leadership

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-group influence

Project delivery

Collaborative change

Job description

About Us

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.Hello, Kia ora, Noa'ia, Talofa lava, Mauri, Mālō e lelei, Tālofa, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālō ni, Kia orana, nǐ hǎo, Kamusta.WorkSafe New Zealand | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa is the primary workplace health and safety regulator. Our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi comes home healthy and safe. We live by our values: Whakakotahi - we are united in a strong purpose Kōrero mai - we engage meaningfully Tiakina mai - we are entrusted with a duty of care

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

About your team / Ko te tīma

This role sits within WorkSafe's Operations group and will lead the implementation of a new Engagement Specialist function. Working closely with Regional and Area Managers, the Stakeholder Partnering and Management team, and engagement specialists across the country, you'll help establish a connected operating model that strengthens how WorkSafe engages with communities, businesses and stakeholders.

About the role / Ō te tūranga

Lead the implementation of a new national engagement modelBuild and embed a high-performing Engagement Specialist functionDrive change, capability and consistency across WorkSafeFixed‑term opportunity with significant organisational impact

As Implementation Lead, you will be responsible for establishing and embedding a new Engagement Specialist function across WorkSafe. Over a 12‑month fixed term, you'll lead a nationally distributed team while designing and implementing the operating model, ways of working, governance and accountabilities required to support long‑term success. This role is as much about people and change leadership as it is implementation, ensuring engagement specialists, operational leaders and stakeholders are supported through the transition and set up for the future.

What You'll Do/ Ko tōu ake mahi

• Lead the implementation of the Engagement Specialist function
• Establish sustainable operating practices, governance and workflows
• Support and develop Engagement Specialists through organisational change
• Build strong relationships with regional leaders, managers and stakeholders
• Clarify accountabilities, expectations and ways of working
• Identify implementation challenges and create practical solutions
• Prepare the model for transition into future reporting arrangements

What You'll Bring / Ko ngā pukenga ōu

• Experience implementing operating models, functions or organisational change initiatives
• Strong people leadership and capability‑building skills
• Experience leading teams through transition and uncertainty
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management capability
• Ability to influence across multiple groups and build alignment
• Strong implementation, project delivery and change leadership experience
• A collaborative approach focused on bringing people with you through change

Salary range / Awhe utu

The expected appointment base salary range for this role is $152,761 - $168,932. KiwiSaver or SSRSS employer contributions are additional.

From 1 April 2026, our KiwiSaver employer contribution increased to 3.5%.

• Free life insurance for the duration of your employment
• 5 weeks annual leave
• 15 days sick leave
• A Reward and Recognition Framework that celebrates the impact our kaimahi make - your mahi matters
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee-led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities (Rainbow, Pacific, Women's and Tū Rangatira Māori Network)

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer.

We value diversity and actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent.

We believe different perspectives strengthen our mahi and help create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

This vacancy has been established as part of changes to WorkSafe's organisational structure after a review of WorkSafe's operating model identified opportunities to improve role clarity, ways of working and organisational effectiveness. As part of these changes, WorkSafe has established a number of new roles to ensure we are well placed to meet expectations now and in the future. Kaimahi whose roles were affected by the structure change will be given preference for all vacancies and will be considered in the first instance.

Applications close: 5pm, 17th September, 2026.