Strategic Relationships Manager

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks’ annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Insurance package

Career development

Job summary

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities is seeking a strategically experienced Strategic Relationships Manager to shape and strengthen external partnerships, government alignment, and the strategic technology ecosystem. Reporting to the Director, Strategy and Portfolio and the CIO, this senior role designs engagement models and intelligence networks to enable informed decisions across government and industry.

You will leverage extensive senior leadership experience and established networks across NZ

Qualifications

• Extensive experience building strategic relationships across government agencies and technology vendors.
• 15+ years of senior leadership at the intersection of government, technology and complex partnerships.
• Well-established networks across NZ public sector tech ecosystem with executive credibility.
• Advising executives on strategic technology supplier relationships and external partnerships.
• Knowledge of NZ public sector investment governance, ICT policy, and digital strategy.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage engagement frameworks and governance pathways for external partnerships.
• Inform and position senior executives across government and industry with strategic insights.
• Monitor policy, regulation, market trends, and supplier strategies to guide investments.
• Align external engagement with GCDO priorities and Treasury expectations.
• Lead a high-value relationships program at enterprise and system-wide levels.

Skills

Strategic relationship leadership

Government & tech partnerships

Executive stakeholder engagement

Policy & governance familiarity

Job description

• Create opportunities for greater collaboration and influence across government and industry
• Help Kāinga Ora reduce compliance risk and maximise value from technology investments
• Permanent role, 5 weeks leave + a suite of benefits

Te whiwhinga mahi - Our opportunity

Are you an exceptional relationship builder with the strategic insight to influence outcomes across government and the technology sector? Kāinga Ora is seeking a highly experienced Strategic Relationships Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and strengthening our external partnerships, government alignment, and strategic technology ecosystem. Reporting within the Digital IT Strategy and Portfolio function, this senior leadership role is responsible for designing and managing the frameworks, engagement pathways, and intelligence networks that enable the Director, Strategy and Portfolio and Chief Information Officer (CIO) to build and maintain high-value relationships with government agencies, central authorities, and strategic technology suppliers. You will ensure senior executives are well informed, strategically positioned, and equipped with the insights needed to engage confidently and effectively across a complex government and technology landscape. Through your leadership, Kāinga Ora will remain closely aligned with Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) priorities, Treasury expectations, and broader cross-government initiatives, while fostering productive, long-term partnerships that support organisational objectives. Working at both an enterprise and system-wide level, you will establish structured engagement models, governance pathways, and intelligence mechanisms that support Digital IT transformation and strategic decision-making. You will monitor and interpret government policy, regulatory developments, market trends, and supplier strategies, translating these insights into practical recommendations that shape investment decisions, portfolio priorities, and external engagement strategies. Kāinga Ora’s Strategic Relationships capability ensures Digital IT is deliberately positioned within its external ecosystem—across government, central agencies, and strategic vendors—to actively shape and leverage external influences rather than respond reactively. It establishes a structured engagement model that enables consistent, purposeful, and strategically aligned interactions, ensuring external engagement supports organisational priorities and investment outcomes.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu - What you will bring

We’re looking for a highly credible and influential relationship leader who thrives in complex environments and has a proven ability to build strategic partnerships that deliver tangible value for organisations, government stakeholders, and the communities they serve. This is a unique opportunity to shape influential relationships across government and the technology sector, support senior executives in navigating complex strategic environments, and play a key role in advancing Kāinga Ora’s digital transformation and long‑term organisational success. You’ll bring together strategic thinking, stakeholder influence, and commercial acumen to help create meaningful outcomes at both an organisational and system-wide level.

Here’s what you will bring to the role:

• Extensive experience building, strengthening, and leveraging strategic relationships across government agencies, technology vendors, and senior stakeholder groups to influence outcomes, align priorities, and create measurable organisational value
• More than 15 years of senior leadership experience operating at the intersection of government, technology, and complex commercial environments, providing strategic advice and enabling executive leaders to maximise opportunities through high-value partnerships and external relationships
• Well‑established networks and trusted relationships across the NewZealand government technology ecosystem, including central agencies and key sector stakeholders, with the credibility and influence to support executive engagement and deliver impact from day one
• Demonstrated experience advising executives on strategic technology supplier relationships and complex partnerships, driving value beyond contractual arrangements through innovation, collaboration, and proactive relationship management
• Strong expertise in NewZealand public sector investment governance, ICT policy, and digital strategy frameworks, with the ability to navigate political, regulatory, and institutional environments to achieve strategic technology and investment outcomes

Nōu te rourou - What’s in it for you?

We offer competitive salaries, five weeks’ annual leave and a benefits package including a range of insurances, flexible working arrangements and career development. These benefits are described in more detail here https://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz/a-great-place-to-work/benefits As a Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities employee, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and support you need. We want to ensure you are healthy and have work‑life balance. We also want to support and grow your personal and career development through on-the-job learning, training courses, secondments and study opportunities.

Mō mātou - Our Organisation

At Kāinga Ora, ours is the important responsibility of transforming NewZealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow NewZealanders to thrive. What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on NewZealanders’ lives. With skills, planning and purposeful action, our people are creating the homes and neighbourhoods that will build the future of Aotearoa. We are passionate about transforming NewZealand for the better. That includes being a trusted partner for Māori and iwi, protecting and enabling their rights, interests and aspirations under the guidance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Ō tātou uara - Our values

• Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Whanake – Be Bold

We value diversity and are committed to working with each other and our customers in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference brings to the organisation. If you don’t tick all the boxes in this listing but think that you could be a great fit based on your unique background and skillset, we would welcome an application from you. We may review applications as they are received and reserve the right to close advertising early.

Applications close Tuesday 8th September at 11:55pm