Head of Employment Practices

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Lead MBIE’s employment architecture and shape a people-centred future.
• Bring your strategic leadership and operational expertise to a high-impact role.
• Permanent full-time | Wellington based
• Salary: $193,289 - $241,611 including Kiwisaver plus wellness benefits

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

Thrive in a dynamic and influential leadership role as Head of Employment Practices at MBIE. As a key member of the People and Culture Leadership Team, you will lead the development and delivery of MBIE’s employment architecture, including industrial and employment relations, remuneration and reward, talent acquisition, payroll, and people practices.

You will provide strategic support to the Chief People Officer and work collaboratively across MBIE to embed a leader-led, people-centred approach. Your leadership will drive innovation, compliance, and excellence in employment practices, ensuring MBIE is well-positioned to meet its legal obligations and deliver on its people strategy.

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

• Proven experience leading in the public service or similarly complex environments, particularly in industrial and employment relations.
• Demonstrated success in developing and embedding strategies, frameworks, and policies that balance people-centred outcomes with legal compliance.
• Strong leadership capabilities, including leading through leaders and managing cross-organisational change.
• Sound understanding of the machinery of government and public sector processes.
• Experience in governance, strategic decision-making, and managing large work programmes.
• Tertiary legal qualification preferred or comparable relevant experience.
• Ability to gain and maintain a top-secret security clearance.
• Must have legal right to live and work in NZ.

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

Click here to view the position description.  When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

Email Jess Dalbeth at jess.dalbeth@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/17819 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday 3 August 2025 (midnight)