Lead Connector | Palmerston North | Permanent

Ministry of Social Development; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development in Palmerston North is seeking a Lead Connector to provide leadership, mentoring and guidance to Connectors and Specialist Connectors, helping them grow their skills to support disabled people and whānau.

You'll work with individuals and families to explore options, co-design and support decision-making to enable them to thrive within the Enabling Good Lives approach and the transformation of the disability support system.

Qualifications

• Experience mentoring or leading teams and managing workflow.
• Deep understanding of the Enabling Good Lives vision and principles.
• Excellent communication skills and adaptability across contexts.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, coach and provide guidance to Connectors and Specialist Connectors.
• Support disabled people and whānau to plan and direct their own lives.
• Build strong relationships across diverse communities.
• Promote the Enabling Good Lives vision and principles.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Community outreach

Communication

Enabling Good Lives

Job description

Lead Connector | Palmerston North | Permanent

• Lead and mentor a team making real impact
• Champion the Enabling Good Lives approach
• Permanent role based in Palmerston North
  

Join a committed team reshaping Aotearoa’s disability support system. In this leadership role you will coach and support Connectors, partner with disabled people and whānau, and drive person-directed, community-connected outcomes.

The Disability Support Services (DSS) Groupis responsible forcommissioning, 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 a Lead Connector,you’llprovide leadership, mentoring and guidance to Connectors and Specialist Connectors, helping them grow their skills to support disabled people and whānau.

You’ll work alongside individuals and families to explore options, create possibilities, and support decision-making about their lives and the resources that enable them to thrive.

This role is central to the Enabling Good Lives approach and contributes directly to the transformation of the disability support system.

You’ll work in homes, schools, communities and provider organisations to build relationships, encourage aspiration, and connect people with their local communities.

• Lead, manage,coachandprovide guidanceto Connectors and Specialist Connectors
• Support disabled people and whānau to plan and direct their own lives
• Build strong relationships across diverse communities
• Promote the Enabling Good Lives vision and principles
• Work collaboratively across homes, schools, and community settings
• Contribute to system transformation and inclusive practice
  

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.

• Deep understanding of the Enabling Good Lives vision and principles
• Experience mentoring or leading teams and managing workflow
• Skilled in creative thinking and supporting aspirational planning
• Strong community connections and knowledge of local resources
• Ability to build trust with diverse individuals and whānau
• Lived experience or strong links with Māori, Pasifika, Rainbow, Deaf or migrant communities
• Excellent communication skills and adaptability across contexts

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $104,359.00 - $129,869.00

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.

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.