Head of the Office of the Deputy Secretary Immigration

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• A member of the Immigration Leadership Team (ILT) in INZ.
• Lead the Office of the Deputy Secretary and provide oversight of key governance and accountability functions
• Oversee the maintenance of INZ’s 'Striking the Balance' strategy and its effective operationalisation. 
• Support and improve MBIE’s Immigration system governance, to ensure that INZ’s business and performance objectives are met. 
• Permanent full time | Wellington

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

The Head of the Office of the Deputy Secretary works alongside the Immigration Leadership Team to support the Deputy Secretary Immigration in driving the strategic performance of Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Leading the Office of the Deputy Secretary, you will oversee ministerial support, immigration private secretaries, system governance, and the Deputy Secretary’s administrative support. You will strengthen the management of emerging issues, governance and accountability across INZ and the wider immigration system, while supporting delivery of the ‘Striking the Balance’ strategy.

Reporting to the Deputy Secretary Immigration, you will provide trusted advice, oversight and assurance across strategic priorities, organisational performance and complex or emerging issues.

You will bring strong senior level relationship management experience, including working with ministerial offices, and lead with a collaborative, supportive and people-centred style.

In this role, you will:

• Provide assurance on INZ’s performance to senior leaders and the Minister
• Drive delivery of the “Striking the Balance” strategy
• Strengthen governance across INZ and the wider immigration system
• Oversee strategic planning, accountability and performance reporting
• Provide timely, trusted advice to the Deputy Secretary
• Lead priority projects, reviews and responses to complex issues
• Support a cohesive, high-performing Immigration Leadership Team
• Build trusted relationships across government and ministerial offices
  lead and develop a capable, collaborative team.

This is a broad and highly trusted role that requires sound judgement, political awareness and the ability to move confidently between strategic, operational, policy and corporate matters.

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

• Demonstrated experience at senior management level with a track record of delivering high quality strategic advice. 
• Excellent political awareness and sensitivity to anticipate areas of potential risk and inform decision making.
• Ability to build and maintain the trust and confidence of Ministers, senior colleagues and other important stakeholders.
• Experience designing and leading reviews of complex matters, requiring navigation between operational, policy and corporate issues. 
• A sound understanding of machinery of government principles and public sector governance. 
• Leads with a customer-centric mindset, is respectful, puts things right, acts with integrity, is responsive and people centered.
• Flexible and agile, and able to respond swiftly and effectively to changing imperatives. 
• Must currently hold and maintain a national security clearance to Top Secret level. 

For your application to be considered and to work for Immigration New Zealand you must be a New Zealand Citizen or hold a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa.
 

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō 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 ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki 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 kaupapa kua 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.

How to Apply - Me pēhea te tono:

Click here to view a 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.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Email Emily Boyd at emily.boyd@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/20139 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11.59pm.