About this role
- Wellington based role
- Permanent or internal secondment for 12 to 18 months
MSD is transforming how we deliver services, creating a welfare system that’s simpler, smarter and centred on people.
Join a talented team delivering one of New Zealand’s most significant transformation programmes and help create better experiences and outcomes for New Zealanders.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
The Transformation Group is leading work that supports MSD’s future role and how we can make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders.
MSD – services for the future is about MSD’s future role and how we can make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders. It will help us achieve the shifts we want to make to achieve our strategic goal, Te Pae Tawhiti.
Business Service Design and Readiness works across the organisation to support the design, readiness and delivery of future service models. The team brings together strategic, operational, design and implementation expertise to help ensure new ways of working are tested, understood and ready before wider rollout.
As Director, Pilot Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the establishment and operation of test-and-learn activities, pilots and model sites. This work will enable the integrated design, validation and evaluation of future service delivery models, ensuring proposed changes are tested as an end-to-end system before broader implementation.
You will lead work that generates evidence-based insights to inform implementation decisions, manage risk and support successful operational change. You will also provide robust evaluation, performance monitoring and implementation insights that influence decision-making at senior levels.
This role will require you to work with a broad and complex range of stakeholders across MSD. You will play a key role in governance, risk management and organisational readiness, ensuring lessons from pilot activity are translated into sustainable operational outcomes and decisions on scalability, feasibility and readiness for wider rollout.
The role is based in Wellington and reports to the General Manager, Business Service Design and Readiness.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga
- Demonstrated experience leading operational change activities, projects or programmes in complex service delivery environments, including stakeholder engagement, operational readiness and implementation.
- Proven experience establishing and leading pilot, test-and-learn or continuous improvement environments, including evaluating outcomes, managing implementation risks and translating insights into action.
- Experience understanding the impact of workforce change, including engaging with others to test and understand future workforce requirements.
- Strong experience in strategic planning, operational management, project management, financial management and performance monitoring.
- The ability to remove constraints and blockers, operate effectively with ambiguity, and support people to develop and perform at their best.
- A practical change mindset, with the ability to plan, deliver and monitor operational change while maintaining service performance.
- The ability to build trusted relationships, influence change in operational teams, work collaboratively with senior and executive leaders, and communicate clearly to support sound decision-making.
- A strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Ao Māori, inclusion, integrity and public service.
What’s in it for you | Nōu te rourou
- Demonstrated experience leading operational change activities, projects or programmes in complex service delivery environments, including stakeholder engagement, operational readiness and implementation.
- Proven experience establishing and leading pilot, test-and-learn or continuous improvement environments, including evaluating outcomes, managing implementation risks and translating insights into action.
- Experience understanding the impact of workforce change, including engaging with others to test and understand future workforce requirements.
- Strong experience in strategic planning, operational management, project management, financial management and performance monitoring.
- The ability to remove constraints and blockers, operate effectively with ambiguity, and support people to develop and perform at their best.
- A practical change mindset, with the ability to plan, deliver and monitor operational change while maintaining service performance.
- The ability to build trusted relationships, influence change in operational teams, work collaboratively with senior and executive leaders, and communicate clearly to support sound decision-making.
- A strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Ao Māori, inclusion, integrity and public service.
The way we work matters just as much as the technology we use. Unlock potential. Join MSD.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga
Director Pilot Operations, position description
Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $163,429.00 - $217,905.00
Applications close | Ka kati ngā tono hei te: 11.59 pm, 1 November 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 [email protected]
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.