Programme Manager

Oranga Tamariki; Wellington; On-site; NZD 175,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remuneration progression

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Children in Wellington, is seeking a seasoned Programme Manager to join the Transformation Group and drive the Military-Style Academy programme through its current transition and future readiness phases.

You will work with senior leaders, ministers’ offices, and partner agencies to deliver outcomes for rangatahi and whānau, ensuring governance, financial oversight, and timely reporting in a high-profile environment.

Qualifications

• Significant programme and project delivery experience, ideally with 10+ years leading complex programmes or large-scale projects.
• Demonstrated experience taking over and delivering in-flight programmes or projects.
• Strong knowledge of programme and project management frameworks and methodologies.
• Experience leading initiatives with significant ministerial, public, and media interest.
• Strong understanding of the machinery of government and legislation-driven change.
• Proven ability to work effectively with portfolio governance groups and provide executive-level reporting.
• Experience managing large programme budgets, forecasting expenditure and ensuring financial accountability.

Responsibilities

• Leading delivery and transition activities for the current phase of the MSA programme.
• Leading programme planning, design, and implementation readiness for future MSA cohorts.
• Managing programme risks, issues, dependencies, and delivery challenges.
• Ensuring strong financial management, forecasting, and expenditure oversight.
• Developing governance reporting, ministerial briefings, and decision-making papers.
• Supporting responses to Official Information Act requests and Parliamentary Questions.
• Leading procurement activities and overseeing third-party providers and delivery partners.
• Driving programme evaluation, lessons learned, and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensuring programme delivery aligns with emerging legislative and operational requirements.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships across Oranga Tamariki and partners.
• Coordinating programme resources and workstreams to ensure successful delivery.
• Supporting the Senior Responsible Owner and governance groups with reporting and recommendations.

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Governance reporting

Financial management

Change management

Leadership

Māori partnership

Portfolio governance

Executive reporting

Public/ministerial liaison

Job description

This is Wellington based fixed term role until June 2027.

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki andrangatahiat the heart of what we do.

In our work, we aim todemonstratethese values:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child.

We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to findappropriate solutionsfor tamariki in need.

Mōtetūnga| About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Programme Manager to join the Transformation Group within the System Leadership business group, supporting delivery of the Military-Style Academy (MSA) programme.

The MSA programme is part of a broader Government response to address serious and persistent youth offending. It focuses on a small cohort of young people who account for a disproportionate level of offending, supporting accountability, rehabilitation, and long-term positive outcomes forrangatahiand their communities.

This role sits at a critical point in the evolution of the programme. You will oversee the successful transition of the current cohort into the community phase while leading the planning and delivery readiness for the next phase of the programme. You will play a key role in ensuring the programme is positioned to meet future legislative requirements as Military-Style Academies become a formal Youth Court sentencingoption.

Operating in a complex and highly visible environment, you will work closely with senior leaders, Ministers' offices, partner agencies, providers, and key stakeholders to ensure successful programme outcomes.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Leading delivery and transition activities for the current phase of the MSA programme
• Leading programme planning, design, and implementation readiness for future MSA cohorts
• Managing programme risks, issues, dependencies, and delivery challenges
• Ensuring strongfinancial management, forecasting, and expenditure oversight
• Developing governance reporting, ministerial briefings, and decision-making papers
• Supporting responses to Official Information Act requests and Parliamentary Questions
• Leading procurement activities and overseeing third-party providers and delivery partners
• Driving programme evaluation, lessons learned, and continuous improvement activities
• Ensuring programme delivery aligns with emerging legislative and operational requirements
• Building andmaintainingstrong relationships across Oranga Tamariki, government agencies, providers, and stakeholders
• Coordinating programme resources and workstreams to ensure successful delivery
• Supporting the Senior Responsible Owner and governance groups through clear reporting, advice, and recommendations

We'relooking for a seasoned Programme Manager who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment with significant ministerial, public, and stakeholder interest.

You will bring:

• Significant programme and project delivery experience, ideally with 10+ years leading complex programmes or large-scale projects
• Demonstrated experience successfully taking over and delivering in-flight programmes or projects
• Strong knowledge of programme and project management frameworks and methodologies
• Experience leading initiatives with significant ministerial, public, and media interest
• Strong understanding of the machinery of government and legislation-driven change
• Proven ability toworkeffectivelywith portfoliogovernancegroups, and provide high-qualityexecutive-level reporting
• Experience managing large programme budgets, forecasting expenditure, and ensuring financial accountability
• Demonstrated success managing multiple workstreams, dependencies, and competing priorities
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across agencies and organisations
• Experience managing procurement processes and third-party delivery partnerships
• Strong change management capability and the ability to support organisational readiness
• The ability to move seamlessly between strategic thinking and hands-on delivery
• Exceptional judgement, communication, and leadership skills
• A commitment to our values and working in partnership with Māori to achieve better outcomes for tamariki andrangatahi

Nōuterourou| What's in it for you

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-profile programme that is helping shape future responses to serious and persistent youth offending in Aotearoa.You'llwork alongside talented and committed people while delivering work that has significant impact for tamariki,rangatahi, and communities.

Oranga Tamarikioffersa step-basedremunerationpackage that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annualremunerationfor this position starts between $174,846 and $193,569 , dependant on experience.

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible workoptionsand a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki andrangatahi.

Applications close on Friday 21 August 2026

Location(s) Wellington