Principal Procurement Specialist

Ministry of Social Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 143,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development is seeking a Principal Procurement Specialist to lead social procurement across the organisation. You will provide expert advice, shape strategic programmes, and mentor teams to elevate procurement practices.

This senior role requires stakeholder collaboration, risk management, and driving change in government procurement policy. You will work with leaders across MSD and agencies to promote best practice, build capability, and ensure procurement activities deliver

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in social procurement, ideally within the public sector.
• A qualification in procurement, MCIPS, or a relevant tertiary qualification.
• Strong experience working with stakeholders on complex procurement programmes and initiatives.
• A sound understanding of the social commissioning lifecycle and government procurement policies and processes.
• The ability to work independently, shape work programmes, and deliver results with minimal direction.
• Experience providing expert advice on complex procurement matters, including interpreting policies, legislation, and organisational frameworks.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience working across teams, business groups, and agencies.
• The ability to identify risks and opportunities, analyse information, and provide practical solutions.
• Experience leading change initiatives and implementing best practice approaches.
• Proven coaching and mentoring skills, with a passion for developing others and building capability.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present complex information in a clear and practical way.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex and strategic procurement work across MSD.
• Coach and mentor team members and build procurement capability.
• Provide trusted advice on procurement matters to senior stakeholders.
• Develop strategic approaches, frameworks and guidance for social procurement.

Skills

Social procurement

Stakeholder management

Procurement policies

Social commissioning lifecycle

Independent work

Expert advice

Relationship building

Risk/opportunity analysis

Change leadership

Coaching & mentoring

Clear communication

Education

MCIPS or relevant qualification

Job description

As a Principal Procurement Specialist, you will provide expert advice and leadership on social procurement across the Ministry. You will lead some of our most complex and strategic procurement work, helping ensure it supports MSD's goals and delivers positive outcomes for New Zealanders.

Working with a high level of autonomy, you will develop strategic approaches, frameworks, and guidance that support quality procurement practices across the organisation. You will provide trusted advice on complex procurement matters, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and help inform decision‑making at a senior level.

You will also play an important role in building procurement capability across MSD. This includes coaching and mentoring team members, sharing your expertise, and supporting continuous improvement.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Extensive experience in social procurement, ideally within the public sector.
• A qualification in procurement, MCIPS, or a relevant tertiary qualification.
• Strong experience working with stakeholders on complex procurement programmes and initiatives.
• A sound understanding of the social commissioning lifecycle and government procurement policies and processes.
• The ability to work independently, shape work programmes, and deliver results with minimal direction.
• Experience providing expert advice on complex procurement matters, including interpreting policies, legislation, and organisational frameworks.
• Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills, with experience working across teams, business groups, and agencies.
• The ability to identify risks and opportunities, analyse information, and provide practical solutions.
• Experience leading change initiatives and implementing best practice approaches.
• Proven coaching and mentoring skills, with a passion for developing others and building capability.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present complex information in a clear and practical way.

Working closely with leaders and stakeholders across MSD and other government agencies, you will help strengthen collaboration and promote best practice in social procurement.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00

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.