Manager Regulatory System Evidence and Insights

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Wellington; Sur place; NZD 160 000 - 260 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Five weeks annual leave

Income protection

Career development opportunities

Inclusive workplace

Résumé du poste

NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi is seeking an experienced people leader to head our Regulatory System Evidence & Insights team in Wellington. You will shape a system-wide view of regulatory risk and performance, pulling together qualitative and quantitative evidence to deliver clear, actionable insights for decision-makers.

You will lead development of the Regulatory Evidence Centre, oversee reviews of system components, and guide risk assessment work while maintaining a future-focused view of

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading evidence, insight, risk or intelligence functions in complex environments.
• Strong track record of building high-performing teams and developing people.
• Ability to bring people together and work across organisational boundaries.
• Experience leading through change, ambiguity or establishment of new functions.

Responsabilités

• Lead the Regulatory System Evidence & Insights team to build an evidence base informing regulation.
• Oversee development of the Regulatory Evidence Centre and evidence profiles for informed decision-making.
• Lead end-to-end reviews of regulatory system components to identify strengths, weaknesses, risks and improvement areas.
• Develop regulatory risk assessments, evaluating vulnerabilities, impacts and controls.
• Identify emerging signals and future risks to inform regulatory priorities and resource allocation.

Connaissances

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Influencing

Risk / evidence interpretation

Formation

Relevant tertiary qualification

Description du poste

• Shape how evidence informs regulatory decisions
• Drive foresight and risk-based thinking
• Build capability and inspire a high-performing team
• Wellington location

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced people leader to lead our Regulatory System Evidence & Insights team, helping NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA) build a strong evidence base to inform the regulation of New Zealand’s land transport system.

The team develops and maintains a system-wide view of regulatory risk and performance, identifying emerging threats, risks, issues and opportunities, and providing evidence and insight to support robust regulatory decision-making.

This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable working across multiple sources of information and can bring together qualitative and quantitative evidence to identify patterns, understand risk, and translate complex information into clear, actionable insights.

The role will see you leading the ongoing development of our Regulatory Evidence Centre and regulatory evidence profiles, ensuring decision-makers have an up-to-date understanding of both the overall health of the regulatory system and the performance of its individual components. You will also oversee end-to-end reviews of regulatory system components, identifying strengths, weaknesses, risks, opportunities and areas for improvement. In addition, you will also lead the development of regulatory risk assessments, evaluating vulnerabilities, potential impacts, existing controls, and priorities for strengthening regulatory oversight and assurance.

A key part of the role is maintaining a future-focused view of the regulatory environment. The role will see you leading the identification and interpretation of emerging signals, trends and developments to understand potential future risks, opportunities and challenges that may affect NZTA’s regulatory system.

By bringing together hindsight, insight and foresight, you will help NZTA better understand regulatory risk, anticipate emerging challenges, and inform the prioritisation of regulatory effort, investment and resources.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

Above all, we’re looking for an exceptional people leader who can bring together people, evidence and diverse perspectives to create clarity in a complex environment.

As a leader, you’ll be someone who builds trust quickly, creates an environment where people can do their best work, and gets energy from helping others succeed. You will have a track record of developing high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and creating a strong sense of purpose and connection.

You may have gained some of your leadership experience through transformation or significant organisational change. You’ll be comfortable establishing or maturing functions, leading through ambiguity, bringing people on the journey, and balancing capability building with delivery.

You’ll be comfortable working with both data as well as numerous sources of qualitative information. This is not a hands-on analytics role. What matters is your ability to understand multiple sources of information, apply strategic and systems thinking, exercise sound judgement, and translate complexity into meaningful insight and action.

Strong skills as a compelling communicator and influencer are vital. We’re looking for someone who can engage a range of audiences, present complex evidence and risk in accessible ways, and build support for ideas through credibility, relationships and clear communication.

To be successful, you will bring:

• Proven experience leading evidence, insight, risk or intelligence functions in complex environments.

• A strong track record of building engaged, high-performing teams and developing people to achieve their potential.

• The ability to bring people together, build trusted relationships and work collaboratively across organisational boundaries.

• Experience leading through change, ambiguity or the establishment of new functions, frameworks or approaches.

• Strong strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to identify connections, emerging risks and longer-term implications.

• Confidence working with multiple sources of information, and translating complex issues into practical insights and recommendations.

• Outstanding written, verbal and visual communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage a wide range of audiences.

• Experience working with senior leaders and building confidence in evidence-based decision-making.

• An understanding of regulatory systems, public-sector decision-making, or other complex operating environments.

A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable, or you may bring equivalent experience gained through senior regulatory or public-service roles where system risk assessment and the leadership of evidence and insights were key components

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public sector.

Mō mātou | About us

Te Rōpū Waeture – Regulatory is the lead regulator for land transport. Our purpose is to ensure the system is safe, efficient and effective and operates in the public interest. We take a system view focused on improving safety outcomes and reducing harm, using education and encouragement to support compliance and enforcement where necessary.

The Regulatory Performance, Risk and Insights group provides system-wide oversight to give NZTA and the Director of Land Transport a clear, evidence-based understanding of performance, risks and outcomes across the land transport regulatory system. It uses evidence and intelligence to support regulatory decision-making, continuous improvement and effective system stewardship.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

This is an opportunity to lead a function with a system-wide regulatory perspective, shaping how evidence, insight and foresight are used to understand risk and support important decisions about regulatory priorities and resources.

Along with meaningful work and the opportunity to influence outcomes that impact on Aotearoa, we offer:

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Flexible working arrangements (role dependent)
• Five weeks annual leave
• Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for permanent employees
• Career development opportunities across a large and complex organisation
• A values-led, inclusive workplace where people are encouraged to grow, contribute, and succeed

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

3 November 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.