Programme Manager

Police; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 142,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Police seeks a Programme Manager (Fixed Term, Wellington) to lead the AML/CFT national strategy implementation and coordinate across Police and key government stakeholders. You will drive milestones, monitor risks, and report to senior governance bodies during the 18-month term.

The role requires delivering innovative financial crime detection enhancements, regulatory compliance improvements, and technology enablement while maintaining strong cross-agency collaboration and

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale programmes with multiple work streams.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across government.
• Strong governance, planning, risk management and reporting skills.
• Experience establishing new capabilities or operating models.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical delivery plans.
• Experience within government, intelligence, law enforcement, regulatory or national security environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national NZFIU transformation programme.
• Build strong partnerships across government, law enforcement, regulatory agencies, industry, and the non-profit sector.
• Strengthen financial crime prevention and enforcement capabilities.
• Champion intelligence-led and risk-based decision making.
• Drive technology modernisation and benefits realisation.

Skills

Programme/Project management

Stakeholder management

Governance & reporting

Change management

Strategic thinking

Education

MSP/PRINCE2/PMP certification

Job description

Career Opportunities: Programme Manager (6029172)

Requisition ID6029172-Posted18/08/2026-Wellington-Fixed Term FT

• Based at Police National Headquarters, Wellington
• Fixed term – Full Time (18-months)
• JR 6029172

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mō te tūnga | About the role

A new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) National Strategy 2026-2030 came into effect on 1 July 2026. The Strategy is designed to protect communities, strengthen law enforcement, and makesystemcompliance simpler and more targeted for businesses.

As part of this strategy, andin order todeliver NZ Police’s commitments within the AML/CFT Work Programme ,we areestablishinga fixed-term Programme Manager to help enhance our response tomoney laundering, terrorist financing, financial sanctions, and other forms of financial crime.

Acting as thecentral pointof coordination between Policeand key governmentstakeholders, the Programme Managerwillberesponsible forthedelivery of initiatives that enhance financial crime detection, intelligence, investigative capability, regulatory compliance, and technology modernisation.

Working closely with the NZ Financial Intelligence Unit (NZFIU), this role willbe responsible forthe following:

• Strategic Programme Leadership -Ensuring clear roadmaps, milestones, and implementation plans are in place. Monitoringperformance, risks, dependencies, and benefits while providing strategic advice and reporting to senior leaders and governance bodies.
• Cross-Agency Partnerships -Buildingandmaintainingstrong partnerships across Police, government agencies, financial institutions, and the non-profit sector.
• Capability Enhancement -Strengtheningorganisational and sector capability infinancial intelligence,money laundering investigations, sanctions compliance,terrorismfinancingandcryptocurrency investigations.
• IntelligenceandData Leadership-Leadinginitiatives to improve the quality, availability, and use ofintelligencedata.Aidingin the delivery of improvements tointelligence collection, analysis, automation, and dissemination.
• Technology Implementation -Drivingtheprocurement,developmentand implementation of modern technology solutions, including intelligence platforms, data automation tools, cryptocurrency analytics,and scoping future enhancements.
• Performance and Benefits Realisation-Establishingrobust governance and assurance frameworks that track delivery against outcomes and key performance indicators. Manage risks, support audits andreviews, and ensure programme benefits are measurable, realised, and sustained over

Key Accountabilities

• Lead thenationally significant NZFIU transformation programme, providing oversight to deliverdesiredoutcomes aligned with New Zealand's AML/CFT andPolicingpriorities.
• Build strong partnerships across government, law enforcement, regulatory agencies, industry, and the non-profit sector.
• Strengthen financial crime prevention and enforcement capabilities, leading initiatives that enhance investigations,compliance, intelligence utilisation, and emerging capabilities such as cryptocurrency analysis.
• Champion intelligence-led and risk-based decision making,thematic risk assessments,improving data and intelligence quality.
• Drive theNZFIU’stechnology modernisation and benefits realisation,ensuring all businesscases, procurement and implementationworkmeets NZ Police’spolicies and standards.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you’ll bring

To be successful in this role, you willrequire:

• Experience leading large-scale programmesof work, including concurrent and overlappingprojects,requirementsand deadlines.
• Ability to influence leadersanddeliver complex programmes involving multiple, cross-governmentstakeholderswithcompeting priorities.
• Strong programme and project management skills, including governance, planning, riskmanagementand reporting.
• Experienceestablishingnew capabilities,servicesor operating models.
• Ability to translate strategicobjectivesinto practical delivery plans.
• Experience working with senior executives, governanceboardsand external stakeholders.
• Sound judgement,resilienceand a solutions-focused mindset.
• Experience with organisational change or transformation projects
• Experience within government, intelligence, law enforcement, regulatory or national security environments
• Knowledge of AML/CFT, financial crime, riskmanagementor intelligence functions.
• Programme/projectmanagement certification (MSP, PRINCE2, PMP or equivalent).
• The successful applicant mustresidein Wellington
• The successful applicant willbe requiredto undergo a full reference and security check prior to any offer of employment being made.
• Ability to obtain andmaintainan appropriate nationalsecurity clearance.
• Must have the right to work in New Zealand.

This role is Leading Leaders level. You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements

Security Clearance Requirements

To be eligible for this role, you may be asked to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET national security clearance.

The minimum criteria for this level of national security clearance is:

NZ Citizen who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or:

• A Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or
• A citizen of or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last 10 years: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, or United States of America, and has a background that can be verified by the NZSIS.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process:

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government’s largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you’ll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $142,124 and $157,916 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Wednesday 2nd September 2026. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.