Senior National Contracts Development Officer

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 61,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Social Development in Wellington, NZ is seeking a Senior National Contracts Development Officer to lead the development, review and administration of social service contracts and funding agreements. You will translate funding arrangements into precise contract documentation and guide junior staff to maintain quality standards.

The role requires strong attention to detail, excellent communication, and experience with contract management systems.

Qualifications

• Experience in contract administration, funding agreement management, or a similar role within a complex organisation.
• Strong attention to detail and high accuracy when handling information.
• Ability to interpret funding arrangements and business requirements into accurate contractual documentation.
• Comfort with numbers and calculating funding information accurately.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review and administer social service contracts and funding agreements.
• Translate funding arrangements and business requirements into clear contract documentation.
• Provide guidance and support to Contract Development Officers to build capability.
• Ensure documentation is compliant and fit for purpose.

Skills

Contract administration

Funding agreement management

Attention to detail

Data interpretation

Numerical accuracy

Communication

stakeholder engagement

Microsoft Office

Relationship building

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

SAP

Oracle

Job description

# Senior National Contracts Development Officer at Ministry of Social Development, Wellington## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this roleDate: 17 Sept 2026Location: Wellington, NZCompany: Ministry of Social Development* Wellington Based* Permanent opportunity## About the role | Mō te tūngaAs a Senior Contract Development Officer, you will provide expertise and support in the development, review, and administration of social service contracts and funding agreements.Working as part of the contract development and processing team, you will help ensure contractual documentation is accurate, compliant, and fit for purpose. You will work closely with colleagues and stakeholders to translate funding arrangements and business requirements into clear, high-quality contract documentation.As a senior member of the team, you will also provide guidance and support to Contract Development Officers, helping to build capability and maintain quality standards across the team.## What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatangaTo be successful in this role, you will bring:* Experience in contract administration, funding agreement management, or a similar role within a complex organisation.* Strong experience working with detailed information and maintaining a high level of accuracy.* The ability to interpret contract instructions, funding arrangements, and business requirements and translate them into accurate contractual documentation.* Confidence working with numbers and calculating funding information accurately.* Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify inconsistencies, risks, and documentation issues.* Sound judgement and the ability to resolve issues or escalate them when needed.* Experience providing guidance, support, or quality assurance to colleagues.* Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.* Strong skills in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.* Clear written and verbal communication skills.* The ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.* Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people.* Experience coaching and supporting others to build capability and confidence.* It would be an advantage if you have e xperience using electronic contract management systems such as SAP or Oracle.You will contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and support the delivery of a consistent and efficient contract development service.## Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga TūngaSenior National Contracts Position Description## Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $61,466.00 - $73,903.00### Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Sunday 27 September, 2026.### 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 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.### How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tonoBefore you submit your application, please take a moment to review our guidance to understand how AI can best support your application. Candidate Guidance - Responsible AI use in recruitmentTo 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. Please highlight how your skills and experience relate to the key responsibilities listed in the position description and job advertisement.All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at [e-mail] 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 maiJoining 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.