Programme Manager | 18 Month Fixed Term | Wellington

Ministry of Social Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 142,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in New Zealand is seeking a Programme Manager for their Disability Support Services. This role requires managing the transition of contracts to a new system while ensuring stakeholder engagement and readiness. Candidates should have extensive programme management experience and a strong focus on inclusivity. This is an 18-month fixed term position based in Wellington, offering competitive salary packages.

Qualifications

• Experience leading service readiness and commissioning activities.
• Strong critical thinking and strategic advice skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee review of business rules and agreements.
• Coordinate commissioning resources for technical delivery.
• Lead sector engagement for successful adoption.
• Provide expert programme management advice and leadership.

Skills

Programme/project management experience

Influencing and relationship management skills

Experience in multi-agency programme environments

Skilled in Agile and Waterfall methodologies

Knowledge of claims and payments processes

Communication skills

Advanced programme management methods

Human-centred design methodology

Job description

Overview

Oversee the review of business rules, agreements, and policy across commissioning teams. Coordinate commissioning resources to support the technical delivery. Lead sector engagement to ensure successful adoption.

Provide strategic oversight across portfolios / categories, driving, monitoring, and reporting on work programme objectives.

About our team | Mō te tīma:

The Disability Support Services (DSS) Group is responsible for commissioning, funding, and stewarding high-quality services that support disabled people, their families, and whānau.

We’re building leadership and management capacity across our teams to deliver both change and business-as-usual effectively. We work closely with providers, stakeholders, and communities to ensure services are fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable. With a strong focus on performance monitoring, data, and insights, we’re committed to continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.

It’s an exciting time to join DSS as we strengthen our systems and expand our capabilities. We’re looking for passionate people to help us achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact.

The opportunity | Te arawātea:

DSS makes significant payments to Disability Providers who delivery services on behalf of MSD. The Health Sector Agreements and Payments (HSAAP) programme will replace the legacy agreement and payments systems and enable a modern and flexible approach to how we contract services from Disability service providers. This includes enabling changing funding models, different contractual mechanisms and payment arrangements.

The role sits within the Shared Services Directorate and reports to the Director Shared Services, with a dotted line to the HSAAP Programme Delivery Lead. You will work closely with DSS Commissioning teams, and the wider HSAAP programme team to deliver consistent, streamlined, and future-focused commissioning and contracting processes and agreements.

About the role | Mō te tūnga:

As the DSS Commissioning Service Readiness Programme Manager, you will play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the Health Sector Agreement and Payment (HSAAP) programme, which is the key technical delivery engine for DSS.

You will engage with internal teams and Providers to simplify/align agreements, business rules and policies and ensure the sector is onboard and ready for the change.

A core focus will be leading the service readiness and commissioning activities needed to transition disability sector agreements from legacy systems to the HSAAP solution.

You will lead strategic activities to prepare the business and associated services for transition to Disability Support Services new contracting solution, provided by Health NZ.

The scope of this role includes:

• Service readiness activities (review of business rules, agreements, policy and strategy across DSS Commissioning) that are required ahead of the technical implementation onto Health NZ new contracting solution.
• Co-ordinating resources needed to support the technical implementation (requirements gathering, testing and training).
• Implementation activities (support Sector engagement and leading the change implementation and adoption).
• Provide expert programme and project management advice and leadership
• Identify, assess, and manage risks and issues
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships across MSD, HNZ and with external partners

This is an 18-month fixed term role based in Wellington.

We value diversity and welcome applications from disabled people and those who have lived experience with whānau, or the disability community. Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.

What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:

• Significant programme/project management experience
• Strong influencing and relationship management skills
• Experience working in multi-agency programme environments and across workstreams
• Skilled in a range of methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.)
• Advanced knowledge of programme management methods and tools
• Strong critical thinking, judgement, and strategic advice skills
• In-depth knowledge of claims and payments processes
• Knowledge of human-centred design methodology
• Excellent planning, organisational, and communication skills
• Welcomes and values diversity, contributing to an inclusive workplace

The role requires strong programme management expertise to manage competing priorities, interdependencies, risks, and reporting requirements while keeping the programme aligned with equity and Te Tiriti principles.

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:

A copy of the position description can be found here. Programme Manager position description.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau:

$142,874.00 - $177,798.00

Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te:

Sunday 19 October 2025

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 and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities. 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.

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono:

To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.

Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.

All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at [e-mail]

Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.

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.