Programme Coordinator

Ministry of Social Development NZ; Wellington; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development NZ – Wellington Central, North Island seeks a motivated Programme Coordinator to join the Contracts Team. You will connect frontline staff with programmes, manage client referrals and build strong provider partnerships to improve employment outcomes.

You will analyse programme performance, support job seekers, and promote innovative approaches to help people gain sustainable employment.

Qualifications

• Experience in recruitment, employment services, sales, marketing, customer engagement, or community development.
• Strong communication and influencing abilities.
• Proven relationship-building with frontline teams and external providers.

Responsibilities

• Promote programmes and services across frontline teams.
• Manage and monitor client referrals to ensure programmes are well utilised.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with providers and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve participation, performance and outcomes.
• Support job seekers to access programmes that enhance employability and confidence.
• Champion innovative approaches to help people move towards sustainable employment.

Skills

Relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Job description

Ministry of Social Development NZ – Wellington Central, North Island

Help connect people to opportunities that change lives!

Are you a natural relationship builder who loves connecting people with opportunities and supporting positive change?

We're looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Programme Coordinator to join our Contracts Team. This is a rewarding role where you'll work alongside MSD frontline staff, community partners, training providers, and stakeholders to help people access programmes that build skills, confidence, and pathways into sustainable employment.

Every day brings something different. One moment you'll be promoting opportunities to frontline teams, the next you'll be meeting with providers, supporting client referrals, analysing programme performance, or helping identify solutions that improve outcomes for job seekers and their whānau.

What you'll be doing

As a Programme Coordinator, you will:

• Promote programmes and services across our frontline teams.
• Manage and monitor client referrals to ensure programmes are well utilised
• Build and maintain strong relationships with providers and stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to improve participation, performance and outcomes
• Support job seekers to access programmes that enhance their employability and confidence
• Champion innovative approaches that help people move towards sustainable employment

Our programmes include Work Preparation, Employment Placement, Community Job Coaching, Youth Services, and Māori and Pacific employment initiatives.

Relationships are at the heart of this role.

We're looking for someone who can engage confidently with a wide range of people and who thrives on building trust, creating connections, and influencing positive outcomes.

You'll bring:

• Exceptional relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence and inspire others
• Experience in recruitment, employment services, sales, marketing, customer engagement, community development, or another people-focused environment
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• The ability to identify opportunities and solve problems creatively.
• Confidence presenting information and promoting opportunities to groups and individuals
• A collaborative approach and genuine commitment to helping people succeed
• Energy, initiative and a willingness to go the extra mile

This is more than just a coordination role.

It is an opportunity to be part of a team that is passionate about making a real difference in people's lives. You'll work with committed colleagues and community partners who share a common goal of helping people achieve independence, confidence, and long-term employment success.

You'll have the chance to build meaningful relationships, contribute innovative ideas, and see first-hand the impact your work has on individuals, families, and communities.

Be Part of Something Meaningful

Join us and help create opportunities that empower people, strengthen communities, and transform lives.

If you're passionate about people, enjoy building relationships, and want a career with purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

To view a copy of the position description, please click: Programme Coordinator, position description.

Salary - Utu-ā-tau

$69,519 - $84,041

Sunday, 20 September 2026.

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.

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.