Senior Advisor Design | Secondment or Fixed Term Opportunity

Ministry of Social Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 104,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development (DSS) is seeking a Senior Advisor in Design & Change for a fixed-term/secondment role based in Wellington. You will provide strategic and operational advice to support service and system design across DSS, applying human-centred and systems design approaches and ensuring effective change implementation.

You will work with the Design & Change team and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality design work grounded in evidence, lived experience, and strong

Qualifications

• Solid experience in an advisory role across multiple audiences.
• Experience in service and system design or related projects.
• Strong understanding of policy and delivery processes.
• Knowledge of human-centred design methods and continuous improvement.
• Strong critical thinking and sound judgement in complex settings.
• Ability to influence and build trusted relationships without authority.
• Excellent communication, planning and organisational skills in a busy team.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its public-sector applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical senior advice to support problem-solving and outcomes.
• Contribute to design strategy, work plans and design workstreams.
• Lead or support projects and initiatives, ensuring quality and on track delivery.
• Apply system and service design principles to policy and implementation work.
• Support programme establishment and work with Programme Managers to define scope.
• Identify emerging issues from the disability community and translate into design work.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships across DSS, agencies, providers and the community.

Skills

Advisory experience

Communication skills

Planning

Organisational skills

Critical thinking

Influence without authority

Human-centred design

Te Tiriti o Waitangi knowledge

Job description

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Senior Advisor Design | Secondment or Fixed Term Opportunity

• Support service and system design to improve outcomes for disabled people
• Work at the intersection of design, policy, delivery, and lived experience
• Secondment or fixed term opportunity ending 30 June 2027

This secondment or fixed term opportunity enables you to contribute your design expertise in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and better outcomes for disabled people.

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.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

As a Senior Advisor in the Design & Change team, you will provide strategic and operational advice to support service and system design initiatives across DSS.

You will contribute to the development and delivery of work programmes, apply human‑centred and systems design approaches, and support the effective implementation of change.

You’ll work closely with the Design & Change team and other stakeholders across DSS, to contribute to high‑quality design work that is grounded in evidence, lived experience, and strong relationships.

This is a fixed term or secondment opportunity ending 30 June 2027 and is based in our Wellington office.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide clear, practical senior advice to support problem‑solving and outcomes


• Contribute to the development of design strategy, work plans and design workstreams


• Lead or support projects and initiatives as required, ensuring deliverables are high quality and on track


• Apply system and service design principles, tools, and approaches to policy and implementation work


• Support programme establishment and work with Programme Managers to define and scope design activities


• Identify emerging issues and opportunities from the disability community and integrate insights into design work


• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships across DSS, agencies, providers, and the disability community

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.

• Solid experience in an advisory role, providing advice to a range of audiences


• Experience in service and system design, leading projects, or driving improvements


• Strong understanding of policy and operational delivery processes


• Knowledge of human‑centred design methodologies and continuous improvement approaches


• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to apply sound judgement


• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and build trusted relationships


• Strong communication, planning, and organisational skills in a busy team environment


• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in public sector work

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $103,815.00 - $125,958.00

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.