Deputy Secretary Immigration

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Substantial people leadership role with large scale operational service delivery
• Lead transformational change across Immigration New Zealand
• Shape New Zealand's immigration system and labour market

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

As Deputy Secretary Immigration, you'll be accountable for achieving the long-term direction of Immigration New Zealand and ensuring its viability as a significant part of the labour market, supporting economic growth. Working with your executive team colleagues across MBIE, you'll lead transformational change across an inclusive and diverse workforce of over 2000 kaimahi, to lift efficiency, consistency and quality of decision making. Your key responsibilities will be:

• Strategic Leadership: Contribute to MBIE's governance as part of the Senior Leadership Team, driving the strategic direction and long-term vision for Immigration whilst considering global trends and New Zealand's place in the world.
• Transformational Change: Lead major change across a distributed business to achieve a measurable lift in service delivery, fostering readiness among staff to understand and implement change.
• Service Delivery Excellence: Lead a senior management team that delivers customer-focused and innovative Immigration New Zealand products and services that are business-like, user friendly and leverage technology.
• Ministerial Relationships: Along with the Chief Executive, manage relationships with Ministers and Government, providing insightful advice on immigration issues.
• International Leadership: Represent Immigration NZ internationally, including our offshore offices and with our international partners.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

• We are looking for an experienced senior executive, most likely at DCE level, with significant service delivery leadership and proven change management capability. In particular, you will need:
• Significant experience leading a complex and highly visible operations/service delivery function ideally in a regulatory context and of a comparable size.
• Demonstrated experience in leading major change across a distributed business to achieve measurable lift in service delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Exceptional people leadership skills, influencing and inspiring a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce.
• Political nous and a proven track record of building and maintaining trust and confidence on sensitive and nuanced issues.
• Resilience, perseverance and the ability to learn in situations of high stress and ambiguity.
• This role offers the opportunity to shape New Zealand's immigration system and lead work that is critical to our economic prosperity and social wellbeing.

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is the Government’s lead business-facing agency. Our contribution to improving the well-being of New Zealanders is summarised in our purpose, to grow New Zealand for all.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

Click here to view a position description. 

For a copy of the information pack or a confidential discussion, please contact Jo Bell or Amy Tea on info@amytea.co.nz

To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to apply@amytea.co.nz

Applications close Sunday 22nd March 2026

You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply for this role.