Practice Manager - Project Management | Transformation | Wellington

• 2 year Fixed Term / Secondment Opportunity

• Based at National Office in Wellington

About the role | Mō te tūnga

The Transformation Group is focused on delivering MSD’s transformation programme and supporting changes that help us make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders.

The Transformation Programme Office provides the project management, planning, coordination, advice, and support needed to help workstreams deliver consistently, effectively and with confidence.

Within this environment, the project management practice plays a key role in building strong capability, consistent ways of working and high-quality support across the programme.

As Practice Manager, Project Management, you will lead and develop a high-performing project management practice within the Transformation Group. You will help ensure the practice has the right capability, capacity, frameworks, tools and guidance to support MSD’s transformation programme.

You will provide people leadership for Project Managers, helping them build the skills, confidence and common methodologies needed to deliver value and functional excellence. You will also lead practice development, and establish learning and development pathways into and across the team.

A key part of the role will be working closely with delivery stakeholders and other practice managers to support workforce planning, resourcing decisions, talent sourcing and recruitment. You will help ensure the right project management and coordination capability is available at the right time to meet programme needs.

You will also lead continuous improvement across the practice, including benchmarking against emerging practice and ensuring the project management practice continues to meet the needs of transformation delivery teams.

What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga

• Demonstrated experience leading a project management practice in a large and complex delivery environment or strong complex project management expertise combined with experience in people leadership.

• Proven experience providing senior-level advice on project management methodologies, including agile and waterfall, and evolving practice to meet future demands.

• Experience in resource management, workforce planning, and the allocation and management of resources to assignments.

• Experience developing and embessing consistent practice and ensuring methods, tools, frameworks and guidance are adopted and used effectively.

• Strong relationship management skills, with experience working with senior leaders, delivery teams and stakeholders to support programme outcomes.

• Strong people leadership capability, including experience building high-performing teams, coaching and mentoring others, and supporting learning and development.

• A change mindset, with the ability to plan, execute and monitor activities during periods of significant change while maintaining performance.

• A commitment to embedding Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi into leadership practice and decision making.

What’s in it for you | Nōu te rourou

This is an opportunity to shape and strengthen the way project management is delivered across a significant transformation programme. You will lead a capable practice, support people to grow, and influence how consistent, high-quality delivery is achieved across complex work.

You will be part of a collaborative environment where your leadership, judgement and ability to bring people together will help create practical, lasting improvements for MSD and the communities we serve.

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga

Practice Manager, position description

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $142,874.00 - $177,798.00

Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 26 August 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 tono

Before 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 recruitment

To 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 jobs@msd.govt.nz

Internal 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 mai

Joining 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.