Principal Programme Advisor | MSD - services for the future | Transformation

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 143,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in Wellington invites applications for a Principal Programme Advisor. This permanent role sits in the Transformation Programme Office and provides expert leadership across specialist programme management areas, shaping delivery confidence, and ensuring high-quality controls, processes and services.

You will lead development and maintenance of frameworks, advise senior stakeholders, produce concise briefs, and foster cross-organisational collaboration.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in complex portfolio or programme design or delivery.
• Proven experience developing, promoting and improving specialist programme management practices, frameworks, standards and processes.
• Strong facilitation, training and coaching skills, building capability across an organisation.
• Proven ability to engage, influence and build high-quality relationships with senior management and third-party providers.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with sound judgement in time-pressured situations.
• Ability to turn complex ideas into practical actions gaining stakeholder engagement and buy-in.
• Strong written communication and ability to produce concise, high-quality documentation.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work autonomously and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience mentoring staff.
• Experience working in mixed methodologies environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead programme management approaches in designated areas of expertise, including capability and maturity uplift, tools, support, reporting, and advisory services.
• Provide subject matter expertise and specialist advice to transformation programme leadership and senior stakeholders.
• Lead the development, implementation and maintenance of frameworks, standards, processes, and quality assurance activities.
• Provide high-level analysis and integrated perspectives on complex issues to support sound decisions and maintain a single source of truth.
• Produce concise and effective documents, briefings and reports for senior leaders and Ministers.
• Build strong relationships across the programme and wider organisation, and support collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Coach and mentor Senior and Programme Advisors

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder engagement

Facilitation & coaching

Analytical thinking

Communication (written)

Change & transformation

Leadership

Mentoring staff

Cross-functional collaboration

Mixed methodologies

Job description

Permanent PositionBased at National Office, Wellington

About the role | Mō te tūnga

This is a key advisory role in the Transformation Programme Office, providing expertise, leadership and delivery across specialist programme management areas. You will help shape and improve transformation programme delivery confidence by ensuring programme controls, processes, systems, and services are of high quality, consistent, and fit-for-purpose. You may lead a centre of excellence, designing and owning frameworks, or you may be a champion for continuous improvement, lessons learned, and quality assurance. . You will build stakeholder confidence, support consistent practice across the programme, and create the transparency and insight needed for shared understanding and sound decision making. Working collaboratively across MSD, you will ensure programme practices and products align with corporate frameworks, policies and practice, are easy to understand and use, and provide clear, insightful information to delivery teams and decision makers.

In this role you will:

• Lead programme management approaches in designated areas of expertise, including capability and maturity uplift, tools, support, reporting, and advisory services.
• Provide subject matter expertise and specialist advice to transformation programme leadership and senior stakeholders.
• Lead the development, implementation and maintenance of frameworks, standards, processes, and quality assurance activities.
• Provide high-level analysis and integrated perspectives on complex issues to support sound decisions and maintain a single source of truth.
• Produce concise and effective documents, briefings and reports for senior leaders and Ministers.
• Build strong relationships across the programme and wider organisation, and support collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Coach and mentor Senior and Programme Advisors

Embed Te Ao Māori, including te reo Māori, tikanga, kawa and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, into the way we work at MSD.

What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga

• Significant experience in complex portfolio or programme design or delivery.
• Proven experience developing, promoting and improving specialist programme management practices, frameworks, standards and processes.
• Strong facilitation, training and coaching skills, with the ability to build capability and maturity across an organisation.
• Proven ability to engage, influence and build high-quality relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior management and third-party service providers.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with sound judgement in complex and time-pressured situations.
• The ability to turn complex ideas and concepts into practical actions and gain stakeholder engagement, commitment and buy-in.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to produce accurate, concise and high-quality documents and reports.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, work autonomously, and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience mentoring staff.
• Experience working in mixed methodology environments.

What We Offer | Tā mātou e tuku ana

• The opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-generation transformation that will shape how MSD supports New Zealanders.
• A principal-level role with scope to influence programme practice, decision making and delivery quality across a complex transformation programme.
• The opportunity to work collaboratively with senior leaders, programme and delivery teams, and specialist partners across MSD.
• A supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.
• If you are an experienced programme professional who can provide trusted advice, lead improvements and build confidence through high-quality programme practice, we want to hear from you!

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga

Principal Programme Advisor, position description

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

Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 6 September 2026

About us | Mō mātou

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 us | Ko te hono mai

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.