Principal Advisor (Intervention Design and Planning)

WorkSafe New Zealand; Wellington; On-site; NZD 131,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

15 days sick leave

Reward and Recognition Framework

Employee-led diversity networks

Job summary

WorkSafe New Zealand is seeking a Principal Advisor for Intervention Design and Planning. You will provide senior intervention design expertise to shape WorkSafe's response to NZ's most significant health and safety challenges, challenging assumptions and testing intervention logic to ensure practicality and defensibility.

This role influences strategic decisions, strengthens intervention design practices, and contributes to better health and safety outcomes across Aotearoa.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy, regulation, or programme design is desirable.
• Ability to provide senior-level intervention design advice and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead intervention design that shapes WorkSafe's responses to major safety challenges.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear, actionable intervention approaches.
• Influence senior decision-making through expert advice and design leadership.
• Identify risks, trade-offs, and opportunities to improve outcomes across regulatory work.

Job description

Principal Advisor (Intervention Design and Planning)

WorkSafe New Zealand | MahiHaumaruAotearoa 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
• Tiakinamai- we are entrusted with a duty of care

Regulatory Effectiveness is a new group established at WorkSafe to strengthen regulatory focus and improve how WorkSafe understands risk, designs interventions, and evaluates impact.

The Intervention Design and Planning team plays a critical role in shaping WorkSafe's response to New Zealand's most significant workplace health and safety challenges. The team works across regulatory, policy, operational, and strategic functions to design interventions that are evidence-based, practical, and capable of delivering meaningful outcomes.

About the role / Ō te tūranga

As a Principal Advisor, you'll provide senior intervention design expertise to help shape WorkSafe's most complex and high-profile pieces of work. You'll challenge assumptions, test intervention logic, identify risks and trade-offs, and help ensure proposed approaches are practical, defensible, and ready for implementation.

This is an opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, strengthen intervention design practice, and contribute to better health and safety outcomes across Aotearoa

What You'll Do/ Ko tōu ake mahi

• Lead intervention design that tackles New Zealand's most complex safety challenges
• Shape practical solutions that deliver meaningful regulatory impact
• Challenge assumptions and test thinking to strengthen decision-making
• Translate intervention intent and strategic priorities into clear, actionable intervention approaches
• Influence key decisions through expert advice and design leadership
• Identify risks, trade-offs, and opportunities to improve outcomes
• Champion high-quality intervention design across WorkSafe
• Apply systems thinking to solve complex problems and drive lasting change
• Deep expertise in intervention design, policy, or programme advisory work with demonstrated experience providing senior-level intervention desgin
• Strong strategic judgement and the ability to navigate complexity with confidence
• Experience shaping and refining interventions in dynamic or regulated environments
• Credibility influencing senior leaders through clear, evidence-based advice
• A talent for turning complex challenges into practical, implementable solutions
• Relevant qualifications or equivalent experience in policy, regulation, programme design, or a related field

Salary range / Awhe utu

As part of our remuneration framework, the full salary range for this role is $130,588-$171,709. The expected appointment base salary is $130,588- $144,295 (KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contributions are additional). From 1 April 2026 our KiwiSaver employer contribution increased to 3.5%.

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 5 weeks annual leave
• 15 days sick leave
• A Reward and Recognition Framework that celebrates the impact our kaimahi make - your mahi matters
• 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.
If you encounter accessibility barriers in completing the application or require adjustments or support to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you, contact *******@worksafe.govt.nz for a confidential kōrero.

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.