Programme Manager | Tourism and Hospitality

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Lead the delivery of a high-profile programme to strengthen New Zealand’s events system, following an independent review of New Zealand’s approach to events.
• Work collaboratively across central government and with external stakeholders to support successful programme delivery.
• Provide programme leadership, governance support and oversight across complex and interconnected policy and operational workstreams.
• Fixed term/Secondment opportunity to Nov 2027 | Wellington CBD location
• Salary: $132,417 - $160,472 plus Kiwisaver

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

The Programme Manager, Tourism and Hospitality is a senior delivery-focused role leading a significant programme of work to strengthen New Zealand's events system.

Following an independent review of New Zealand's approach to events, you will lead the coordination and delivery of policy and operational workstreams, including development of a National Events Strategy and implementation of priority actions from the review.

Reporting to the Manager Tourism Economy, you will provide programme leadership across a complex and high-profile work programme, ensuring activities are well-planned, connected and delivered on time. You will establish effective programme management systems, oversee risks and dependencies, support governance processes, and provide high-quality reporting and advice to senior leaders and Ministers.

Working closely with colleagues across MBIE, government agencies, local government, industry, and Māori and iwi, you will build strong relationships, align priorities, and translate strategic objectives into practical delivery plans and outcomes.

While not a policy role, you will operate within a public policy environment and require an understanding of government processes and decision-making. Success in the role will require strong programme management expertise, sound judgement, stakeholder leadership, and the ability to bring structure, momentum and clarity to a complex programme of work.

What you’ll be doing:
•    Lead and coordinate a high-profile work programme across multiple workstreams. 
•    Drive programme planning, governance, reporting and delivery to achieve key outcomes. 
•    Manage programme risks, dependencies and performance across a complex stakeholder environment. 
•    Provide trusted advice and reporting to senior leaders, Ministers and governance groups. 
•    Build strong relationships across central and local government, industry, Māori and iwi, and delivery partners. 
•    Translate strategic priorities into practical actions and successful delivery. 
•    Lead priority projects and provide programme leadership, quality assurance and expertise across the team.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

We are looking for an experienced Programme Manager who can bring structure, pace and delivery discipline to a complex work programme in a public sector environment. You will be comfortable working autonomously, coordinating multiple workstreams and bringing together people with different responsibilities, perspectives and priorities. An interest in or experience working within the events sector would be beneficial but is not essential.

We are keen to hear from you if you have:

• Strong programme management expertise, with a high level of knowledge of programme management disciplines and a proven record of delivering complex work programmes.
• Experience delivering programmes or projects and leading project teams in a public sector environment.
• A sound understanding of the public sector, including government decision-making, policy and regulatory processes, and associated operating procedures.
• Proven ability to plan, coordinate and monitor multiple concurrent workstreams, milestones and deliverables.
• Experience identifying and managing programme risks, issues and interdependencies, including escalating significant matters appropriately.
• Experience supporting governance arrangements and producing clear, accurate and timely reporting for senior leaders, Ministers or steering groups.
• Strong stakeholder management and facilitation skills, with experience working across government, industry and Māori and iwi.
• The ability to quickly establish trusted and credible relationships and work collaboratively with senior managers, colleagues, external stakeholders, and Māori and iwi partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex programme information clearly to different audiences.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to connect different parts of a work programme and translate ideas and priorities into practical action.
• A proactive and delivery-focused approach, supported by sound judgement, discretion and a high level of initiative.

At the time of application, you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

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:

When you are ready to apply please submit your 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 Fati Tagata at fati.tagata@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/20247 if you have any further questions.

Applications close 11.59pm on Monday 19 October 2026.