Programme Manager

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Wellington; On-site; NZD 175,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Wellington is seeking an experienced Programme Manager to join the Transformation Group within the System Leadership division, supporting the Military-Style Academy (MSA) programme. This fixed-term role will drive delivery and transition for the current cohort and prepare for the next phase.

You will manage programme risks, budgeting, and dependencies while engaging senior leaders, ministers’ offices, and partner agencies to ensure governance readiness

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading complex programmes or large-scale projects.
• Experience taking over and delivering in-flight programmes or projects.
• Strong knowledge of programme and project management frameworks and methodologies.
• Experience working with ministerial, political, public, or media interest.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery and transition activities for the current phase of the MSA programme
• Lead programme planning, design, and implementation readiness for future MSA cohorts
• Manage programme risks, issues, dependencies, and delivery challenges
• Ensure strong financial management, forecasting, and expenditure oversight
• Develop governance reporting, ministerial briefings, and decision-making papers
• Support responses to Official Information Act requests and Parliamentary Questions
• Lead procurement activities and oversee third-party providers and delivery partners
• Drive programme evaluation, lessons learned, and continuous improvement
• Ensure programme delivery aligns with legislative and operational requirements
• Build and maintain relationships across Oranga Tamariki, government agencies, providers, and stakeholders
• Coordinate programme resources and workstreams to ensure successful delivery; support the Senior Responsible Owner and governance groups with reporting, advice, and recommendations

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Governance reporting

Budget management

Change management

Procurement

Inter-agency collaboration

Strategic thinking

Executive-level reporting

Job description

This is Wellington based fixed term role until June 2027.

Mō mątou | About us

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

In our work, we aim to demonstrate these 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 find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te ūūnga | 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 for rangatahi and 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 sentencing option.

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 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, government agencies, providers, and stakeholders
• Coordinating programme resources and workstreams to ensure successful deliverySupporting the Senior Responsible Owner and governance groups through clear reporting, advice, and recommendations

Ngą pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

We're looking 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, political, public, or media interest
• Strong understanding of the machinery of government and legislation-driven change
• Proven ability to work effectively with portfolio governance groups, and provide high-quality executive-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 and rangatahi

Nōu te rourou | 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'll work alongside talented and committed people while delivering work that has significant impact for tamariki, rangatahi, and communities.

Oranga Tamariki offers a step-based remuneration package that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $174,846 and $193,569 , dependant on experience.

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and 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 and rangatahi.