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Team Leader, Capability Development at National Emergency Management Agency, Wellington - Wairarapa

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Team Leader Capability Development 

Type: Permanent

Location: Wellington

Applications close: 5pm Sunday 25th October

 Apply via THIS LINK.

 

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

The Capability Development Team is part of the wider System Capability Team and plays a key role in shaping capability across the Emergency Management sector. As a small team with a broad mandate, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of leading  a team to design and develop learning to professionalise the Emergency Management Workforce across NZ.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of Emergency Management learning, both internally and across the sector. As our team and work programme evolves, you'll play a key role in building both. Working across the organisation, you'll partner with your peers and senior leaders to influence and evolve thinking, as well as work with the sector to gain buy in into NEMA's direction.

We're looking for an experienced Team Leader in the capability space, who brings the breadth of experience leading a learning design team. You'll combine systems-thinking with practical delivery, moving confidently between strategy and action to create meaningful and lasting impact. It's an opportunity to work across the full Emergency Management System, helping shape capability and approaches to deliver best practice learning design and development in ways that support NEMA's future success.

The purpose of the Team Leader Capability Development role is to:

  • Lead a team of Senior Advisors who are focused on learning design and development
  • Partner with senior leaders across NEMA to gain feedback and support for the direction of the team's work programme
  • Provide expert advice and thought leadership on how to develop workforce capability
  • Support sector transformation by delivering fit for purpose learning interventions
  • Lead a team to design and deliver learning that builds capability 
  • Build trusted relationships and influence outcomes through credibility, expertise and strong stakeholder partnerships.
  • Bring contemporary thinking, external insights and evidence-based practice to strengthen organisational capability and ensure NEMA remains fit for the future. 

 

This is an exciting role for someone who enjoys working with complexity, sees opportunities where others see challenges, and is motivated by making a meaningful difference. It offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future capability of New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency and the sector, while contributing to work that ultimately supports the resilience of communities across Aotearoa.

NEMA is a small operational agency and has a very dynamic work environment as we are required to respond to emergency activations.  This means that all staff are often required to pivot and change focus at short notice.  Adaptability, agility, resilience and curiosity are important attributes in both business-as-usual and emergency response environments.

Ko wai koe | About you

You're an experienced learning professional who has lead teams, with deep expertise in capability development and a strong understanding of how capability development drives measurable outcomes. You bring the breadth of strategic experience enabling you to connect the bigger picture with practical solutions that deliver results.  Curious, pragmatic and people-focused, you're equally comfortable influencing senior leaders both within NEMA and externally, and in delivering outcomes. You build trust quickly, bring sound judgement and enjoy working alongside others to create positive organisational impact.

You will bring:

  • A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent work experience in capability development.
  • Significant experience in a team leadership role focused on capability development.
  • Demonstrated ability to take a whole-of-system view.
  • Experience leading complex capability development initiatives that deliver meaningful and enduring improvements.
  • Strong understanding of contemporary people and organisational practices, and how they contribute to organisational success.
  • Experience using insights, evidence and data to identify opportunities, diagnose challenges and develop strategic solutions.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • The ability to communicate complex ideas in ways that are clear, engaging and actionable.

And with the following attributes:

  • A strategic and future-focused thinker who sees connections, patterns and opportunities across the organisation.
  • A trusted advisor who builds strong relationships and credibility with leaders at all levels.
  • Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy, initiative and professional judgement.
  • Curious and continually seeking new ideas, perspectives and approaches to strengthen capability .
  • Energised by complexity and motivated by making a meaningful difference.
  • An excellent leader who creates engagement, encourages new thinking and brings people together to achieve results.
  • Warm, authentic and approachable, with a genuine passion for people, and organisational success.

 

Ko wai mātou | About us

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system as a whole, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery.  

NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives.  We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day to day work, values and practices. 

 

Ta matou e tuku | What we offer

We pride ourselves on the quality of our people and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence is recognised and where staff are encouraged to develop their own talents and potential. We welcome diversity, in all its forms and we believe it is a strength.  NEMA values staff health, safety and wellbeing, and a positive work life balance is encouraged.

The indicative BASE salary range for this role is $165,000 - $183,000. NEMA offers other benefits such as Department leave, Wellbeing allowance, Vision allowances and more.

 

Whakaritenga Haumaru | Security Requirements

Due to the security requirements of this role, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident. 

 

Me pehea te tono | How to apply

Apply via THIS LINK.

To read the full job description please click here.   Contact us at NEMATalent@nema.govt.nz with any questions.  We do not accept unsolicited approaches from agencies or 3rd parties. 

Applications Close: 5pm Sunday 25th October

Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details

Employer: National Emergency Management Agency
Location: Wellington - Wairarapa
Position type: Permanent - Full Time
Category: Human resources, recruitment & training
Date listed: 09-Oct-2026
Salary range:
-
Closing date: 23-Oct-2026
Reference: NZ/1003070
Attachment: Watch Leader (MAR Team) JD updated Sept2026.docx (Word, 336KB)
Job Specification

File links:
Website: https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/about/vacancies/

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