Principal HR Advisor - Wellington (Secondment/Fixed Term to June'26)

About us
 
The Ministry of Social Development 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 and 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.

Principal HR Advisor, Workforce Strategy & Organisational Design

• Bring your HR knowledge to MSD’s Transformation journey while expanding the breadth of your own HR career
• Secondment or Fixed Term appointment through to 30 June 2026
• Wellington CBD location

Overview of Position

 
‘Te Pae Tawhiti – Our Future’ is about the MSD’s future and how we can make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders. Our Te Pae Tawhiti transformation programme will enable us to deliver services that are easily accessible, and with a greater use of partnering will be better integrated across employment, housing, and income support. The programme will also modernise our technology, data and information to support these business changes. 
 
 

Skills and Experience
 

As a Principal HR Advisor you will provide employee experience and organisational design expertise.  You will have a key role in ensuring that our people are at the basis of how we design and support our future services.   
With the ability to apply your broad range of knowledge across all aspects of human resources, you will be comfortable providing strategic and operational advice and guidance to a range of programme workstreams. 

You will help us to continue designing a future where our employees are at the heart of our business.

 
Your success will be due to; 
 

• Exposure to and knowledge of working in an agile environment with an ability to ‘work in the grey’ and pragmatically change priorities based on need
• Experience working on high-impact initiatives and delivering projects in a structured environment
• Ability to collaborate and influence effectively across multiple groups, management and unions
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Patience and a great sense of humour!

Your business partnering, communication and organisational design skills will be highly valued as the keys to your success!

Position Description

Salary range: $141,109.00 - $175,603.00

How to apply

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, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description. 

All applications must be made online.  If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at [email protected]

Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work.  This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as an internal candidate.

Closing date: Monday, 24 March 2025

NB: Secondments are only available to 'permanent' government department employees.  You will require the support and approval of your current Team Leader/Manager to apply for a secondment as they need to be in a position to ‘release’ you from your substantive role to take up this opportunity should your application be successful. So please discuss this with them before submitting your application.

Joining us

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. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.

MSD has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that encourages, but does not require, employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants, unless the role is identified as requiring vaccination at the time.