Strategic Relationships Manager

Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities; Wellington; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks' annual leave

Benefits package

Job summary

Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities is seeking a Strategic Relationships Manager to lead external partnerships and government alignment within the Digital IT Strategy and Portfolio function. You will design engagement frameworks, monitor policy, and steer executive-informed investment decisions across a complex government and technology landscape.

Reporting to the Director, Strategy and Portfolio and CIO, you will build high-value relationships with government agencies, central authorities, and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience building, strengthening, and leveraging strategic relationships across government, technology vendors, and senior stakeholders.
• More than 15 years of senior leadership at the intersection of government, technology, and complex commercial environments.
• Well-established networks across NZ government technology ecosystem with credibility to support executive engagement.
• Advising executives on strategic technology supplier relationships and partnerships to drive value beyond contracts.
• Strong expertise in NZ public sector investment governance, ICT policy, and digital strategy frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage engagement models, governance pathways, and intelligence networks for external partners.
• Monitor government policy, regulatory developments, and supplier strategies to inform investment decisions and portfolio priorities.
• Position Digital IT to align with Government priorities and foster long-term partnerships across government and strategic vendors.

Skills

Strategic relationships

Government stakeholder engagement

Commercial acumen

Leadership

Influence and networking

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?

• 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

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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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

• five weeks' annual leave
• a benefits package including a range of insurances
• flexible working arrangements
• career development

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 New Zealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow New Zealanders to thrive.

What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on New Zealanders’ 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 New Zealand 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

Applications close Tuesday 8th September at 11:55pm

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.