Senior Contract Manager at Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington City

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Job title: Senior Contract Manager

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington City

Salary band & range: General Salary Range C: $119,376 to $153,670 depending on skills and experience

 

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

This senior role sits within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) central Procurement and Commercial Management team, leading complex ICT contracts that are strategically important to the delivery of MPI's objectives.

 

You'll operate with a high degree of autonomy, ensuring commercial arrangements deliver value, performance, and align with organisational goals. The role offers the ability to work at the heart of commercial delivery, influencing outcomes, and the chance to mentor others in a collaborative, high-performing team.

 

We are looking for someone who brings contract management expertise, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and a strategic mindset. You'll be a trusted adviser across the organisation, helping to uplift commercial capability and drive continuous improvement.

 

Key responsibilities are to:

• Lead complex negotiations and develop structured strategies for ICT contracts
• Review legacy agreements and conduct gap analysis for risks and improvements
• Mentor and support others, providing oversight and peer reviews for consistency
• Engage suppliers to align expectations and strengthen delivery outcomes
• Create work plans, performance measures, and risk mitigation strategies
• Provide commercial advice to contract owners and monitor contract outcomes
• Navigate MPI processes and technical environments to support effective delivery
• Facilitate regular meetings with suppliers and owners to track performance and expenditure

 

About You - Mōu

You'll bring a strong commercial lens and a passion for driving contract performance and value. You're confident navigating complexity, negotiating agreements, managing supplier relationships, and providing expert advice that influences key decisions.

 

You're skilled at building relationships across all levels, internally and externally, with resilience and advanced communication skills. You ask thoughtful questions, challenge constructively, and bring people onside in complex or resistant environments. You'll play a key role in mentoring colleagues, promoting best practice, and contributing to a culture of excellence.

 

You will bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification or professional certification (e.g., MCIPS, WorldCC)
• Proven experience managing complex, high-risk, strategically significant contracts
• Expertise in negotiating complex agreements, pricing models, and performance frameworks
• Strong commercial and financial literacy with analytical capability
• Advanced communication and stakeholder engagement skills to navigate ambiguity
• A strategic mindset and ability to influence across the organisation
• Experience mentoring and coaching others to build team capability

 

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

We're a small, close-knit team based in Wellington City. Known for our depth of commercial expertise and collaborative approach, we support each other, celebrate wins, and enjoy fun activities like morning teas, lunches, and afternoon quiz.

 

Our mahi focuses on commercial contract management and uplifting MPI-wide capability. We provide guidance, tools, and training so everyone across MPI can manage contracts effectively. You'll work alongside a team that values innovation, impact, and continuous improvement, contributing to outcomes that matter for Aotearoa.

 

We foster an inclusive, dynamic environment where ideas are shared, challenges are respectful, and growth is encouraged. As part of the wider Procurement & Commercial Management team, we collaborate closely, meet fortnightly, and enjoy a culture of knowledge sharing and support. Great leadership, strong relationships, and a reputation for excellence make this a fantastic place to work.

 

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

We are passionate about growing prosperity in New Zealand's primary sectors while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources. 

 

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames 

 

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/about-mpi/careers/working-mpi/benefits/

 

Credit check - Tirotiro nama

Please note, given this position is identified as carrying financial risk, the preferred candidate(s) will be required to satisfactorily pass a credit check.

 

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

 

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

 

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes, and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

 

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

 

Applications close at 11.59pm 8 February   

 

If you have any questions about the role, please email Sophie.Hallett@mpi.govt.nz 

 

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