Principal Advisor - Organisational Design Specialist

New Zealand Government Joba; Wellington; On-site; NZD 142,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government Joba seeks a senior workforce design leader to guide organisation design, capability planning and transition across a major planning system transformation programme. You will shape future workforce models, assess capability gaps and lead change initiatives within a highly collaborative government environment.

You will provide expert advisory support to programme leaders, engage senior stakeholders, and drive readiness for digital transition and new ways of working in a

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering organisation design, workforce planning and capability initiatives.
• Proven success supporting workforce transformation within major programmes or reforms.
• Strong analytical skills including data analysis and capability assessment.
• Experience developing workforce transition plans and change implementation.
• Knowledge of workforce planning and capability development approaches.

Responsibilities

• Analyse current and future workforce and capability requirements across complex organisations.
• Develop future-state organisation design options and transition approaches.
• Assess impacts from planning system reform on workforce, roles and capabilities.
• Identify capability requirements including skills and behaviours for readiness.
• Assess capability gaps and develop strategies to build future capability.
• Support capability planning for the digital transition and retention of critical capabilities.
• Design and support workforce uplift initiatives enabling new ways of working.
• Provide specialist organisation design and workforce advice to programme leaders.

Skills

Organisation design

Workforce planning

Capability development

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Change management

Public sector reform

Job description

**About the role**Reporting into the People, Readiness and Change function within the programme, you will lead workforce organisation design initiatives that support the implementation of the Planning System Transformation Programme. Working across a complex reform programme, you will help shape future workforce models, identify capability requirements, and support workforce transition planning. You will operate in a highly collaborative programme environment, providing specialist advice and leadership on workforce design, organisational change, capability planning, and transition approaches.**What you'll be doing**You will:* Analyse current and future workforce and capability requirements across complex organisations and systems.* Develop future-state organisation design options, workforce models and transition approaches.* Assess workforce, role and capability impacts arising from planning system reform.* Identify current and future capability requirements, including skills, behaviours, professional practice and workforce readiness needs.* Assess capability gaps, risks and opportunities, and recommend strategies to build future capability.* Support capability planning for the digital transition, including retention of critical capabilities and development of new capabilities.* Design and support workforce and capability uplift initiatives that enable new ways of working and improved organisational readiness.* Provide specialist organisation design, workforce planning and capability advice to programme leaders, stakeholders and governance groups.**About you**You will bring:* Significant experience delivering organisation design, workforce planning and capability initiatives in large, complex organisations or system environments.* Proven success supporting workforce transformation within major programmes, reforms or organisational change initiatives.* Strong analytical skills, including workforce data analysis, capability assessment and organisation design methodologies.* Experience identifying future capability requirements and assessing capability gaps within complex environments.* Experience developing workforce transition plans and supporting workforce change implementation.* Knowledge of workforce planning, capability frameworks and capability development approaches.* Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at senior levels.* A strategic mindset, excellent communication skills, and the ability to deliver practical outcomes in a fast-paced programme environment.**Ideally, you'll also have*** Experience working within government, public sector reform, or large-scale transformation programmes.* Experience working across multiple organisations, agencies or system partners.**Salary range**Salary range for this role is $142,185 to $173,853 pa. with a midpoint of $157,519. Appointments within this range will be based on skills and experience.**Apply now**Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and cover letter. **Note:****your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required****for this role.**The location for this role is Wellington, other major centres considered for the right candidate. If you have any questions about this role, please contact Nicole Taylor via email [e-mail]**Note:** for our internal permanent people who are applying for a secondment, you must speak with your Manager before submitting your application.**Applications close:** Wednesday 7th October 2026