About this role
<p> </p> <ul> <li>Influence system-wide transformation shaping outcomes for disabled people and the disability sector</li> <li>Trusted advisor to senior leaders on complex, high-impact and politically sensitive issues</li> <li>Work at the centre of strategy, governance, and cross-agency alignment</li> </ul> <p><br>Join Disability Support Services (DSS) Transformation and play a key role in shaping the future direction of services and system change across the Ministry. This is a senior, high-impact role where your expertise, insight and judgement will influence strategic priorities and outcomes at both organisational and system level.</p><div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:18.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>About our team | Mō te tīma</b></H2> </div><div><p> </p> <p>The Disability Support Services Group (DSS) has been established to ensure fairer access to disability support services in New Zealand, ensuring those with the greatest needs receive quality support services.</p> <p> </p> <p>The Transformation team is in place to continue work to strengthen DSS services for the future following the implementation of the independent review recommendations.</p> <p> </p> <p>The work ahead aims to:</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>provide disabled people with certain and consistent access to DSS, no matter what their circumstances or where they live in New Zealand</li> <li>prioritise funding for disabled people with the highest needs, and those who would benefit most from early intervention support,</li> <li>ensure that Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles are put into practice</li> <li>ensure that the long-term sustainability of DSS is strengthened to provide disabled people and carers with services that are consistent, fair and affordable.</li> </ul></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:18.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>About the role | Mō te tūnga</b></H2> </div><div><p> </p> <p>Reporting to the General Manager DSS Transformation, you will provide strategic, operational, technical and analytical leadership across the business group and wider Ministry.</p> <p> </p> <p>You will work with a high degree of autonomy to deliver authoritative, system-level advice, support effective governance, and ensure alignment across programmes and priorities.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Key responsibilities include:</strong></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Provide strategic advice to the General Manager on Transformation programme priorities, governance and engagement with the DSS leadership team</li> <li>Ensure strong integration and alignment across the Transformation programme and other programmes of work, including implementation, planning, funding and monitoring</li> <li>Represent the General Manager and DSS in cross-agency forums, engaging with senior leaders across government and the sector</li> <li>Deliver authoritative advice to senior leaders and governance groups, shaping the direction and implementation of policy, major initiatives and organisational change</li> <li>Develop and influence business group strategy, frameworks and approaches, ensuring alignment with government and organisational priorities</li> <li>Identify and manage system-level risks, issues and dependencies, providing strategic mitigation advice and ensuring appropriate escalation</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>We value diversity and welcome applications from disabled people and those who have lived experience with whānau, or the disability community.</p> <p> </p> <p>Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. </p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:18.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga</b></H2> </div><div><p> </p> <ul> <li>Significant experience advising senior leaders and Ministers within a government department or Crown entity</li> <li>Proven ability to provide authoritative advice on complex, ambiguous and politically sensitive issues</li> <li>Extensive experience interpreting and applying complex policy, legislation and organisational frameworks</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to influence and engage a wide range of senior and cross-agency stakeholders</li> <li>Strong strategic thinking with the ability to connect system-level insights to organisational priorities</li> <li>Experience supporting governance processes and preparing high-quality materials that enable effective decision-making</li> <li>Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences</li> <li>Proven ability to lead through complexity, using sound judgement to develop practical, evidence-informed solutions</li> <li>Experience identifying emerging risks, opportunities and system-level trends and translating these into strategic advice</li> <li>A commitment to mentoring others and building organisational capability through guidance and best practice</li> </ul></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:18.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga</b></H2> </div><div><p> </p> <p>A copy of the position description can be found here. <a title="" href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.msd.govt.nz%2Fhr%2Fdocuments%2Fposition-descriptions%2Fdisability-support-services%2Fprincipal-advisor-transformation.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Principal Advisor Transformation position description.</a></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:18.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00</b></H2> </div><div></div></div></div><p> </p> <h3><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: Tuesday 7 July 2026.</strong></span></h3> <p> </p> <h3><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><strong>About us | Mō mātou</strong></span></h3> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <h3><strong>How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono</strong></h3> <p> </p> <p>Before you submit your application, please take a moment to review our guidance to understand how AI can best support your application. <a href="https://www.msd.govt.nz/hr/documents/position-descriptions/dce-people-and-capability/people/candidate-guidance-responsible-ai-use-in-recruitment.docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Candidate Guidance - Responsible AI use in recruitment</a></p> <p> </p> <p>To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.</p> <p> </p> <h3><strong>Joining us | Ko te hono mai</strong></h3> <p> </p> <p>Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents.</p> <p> </p> <p>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 <a href="https://jobs.msd.govt.nz/MSD">here.</a></p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p>