Senior Advisor, Employment Pathways & Internship Programme

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

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development NZ seeks a Senior Advisor to support the peak delivery phase of the 2026/2027 Summer Internship Programme. You will provide high-quality advice and coordinate across agencies to deliver employment pathways initiatives.

Based in Wellington, you will manage programme activities, timelines, risks and reporting, while mentoring interns and managers and building inclusive partnerships with Māori, Pacific and disabled communities.

Qualifications

• Practical experience providing advice or analysis on employment pathway programmes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Cultural intelligence and experience working with diverse communities, including Māori, Pacific, disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent communities.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
• An understanding of the machinery of government is desirable, but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality advice and analysis to support employment pathways initiatives and achieve practical outcomes.
• Coordinate key workstreams within the All-of-Government Disabled Summer Internship Programme.
• Manage programme activities, timelines, risks, milestones, reporting requirements and deliverables.
• Provide guidance and support to interns, managers, buddies and mentors throughout the programme.
• Coordinate the Disability in the Public Sector Community of Practice and the All-of-Government Deaf Employee Network.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and support contracts and partnerships linked to employment pathways initiatives.

Skills

Practical experience in employmentPath

Stakeholder engagement

Organisational/time management

Cultural intelligence

Te Tiriti o Waitangi understanding

Machinery of government understanding

Job description

Ministry of Social Development NZ seeks a Senior Advisor to support the peak delivery phase of the 2026/2027 Summer Internship Programme. You will provide high-quality advice and coordinate across agencies to deliver employment pathways initiatives.

Based in Wellington, you will manage programme activities, timelines, risks and reporting, while mentoring interns and managers and building inclusive partnerships with Māori, Pacific and disabled communities.