Manager, Strategy and Performance - Fixed term or secondment to 31 May 2028 at The Audit Office, Wellington - Wairarapa

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Manager, Strategy and Performance – Fixed term or secondment to 31 May 2028

The Audit Office | Te Mana Arotake aims to improve trust and confidence in public services by giving New Zealanders an independent view of government spending and performance. As the statutory auditor of all public organisations, from councils to schools, the Auditor-General's work plays a major part in ensuring that our public sector remains one of the most trusted in the world.

We're looking for a Wellington-based manager to lead the Office's strategy, planning, performance measurement, and governance. This is a fixed-term or secondment opportunity through to 31 May 2028.

In this role, you'll lead a small, capable team in our Strategy and Communications Group. You'll oversee key planning and reporting products (including the annual plan, annual report, and quarterly reporting) and help embed a new performance framework that supports better organisational insight and continuous improvement.

You'll work closely with senior leaders, including the Auditor-General, and advise and influence the Senior Leadership Team and fellow Tier 3 leaders. You'll also help strengthen how sector intelligence informs our annual planning, and support effective governance and decision-making across the Office.

We're looking for someone who brings:

• experience in strategic or business planning, annual reporting, and performance reporting in the public sector;
• team leadership experience, or significant principal advisor-level experience with readiness to step into management;
• credibility advising and influencing senior leaders;
• strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills;
• curiosity, pragmatism, and a drive for improvement; and
• an understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori, and the importance of addressing inequalities and disparities in public services.

This is a great opportunity to contribute to our new strategic direction and have real influence in a unique organisation with broad reach and impact.

We offer our staff:

• Learning and development opportunities.
• Flexible working.
• Health and well-being benefits.
• A unique operating environment with Parliament.

Read more – including about staff networks, annual leave, and family benefits – on our website: ao.parliament.nz/about-us/careers/benefits-for-employees

What we stand for

People matter | Our independence is critical | We act with integrity and courage | We're here to make a difference

We have a diverse and inclusive team that helps us to understand the issues facing the public sector and how these affect the lives of New Zealanders. We strongly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so that we can assist you through the recruitment process. 

For this role, you must be able gain and maintain a Confidential national security clearance. Ordinarily, this means that you must be a New Zealand citizen, be a permanent resident, or hold a current residency class visa and intend to become a citizen when eligible. You must have a five-year checkable background in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Canada, or Australia. Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance: www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool (please note that this is not part of the formal security clearance process).

For more information, please contact Sandy Hoggarth at recruitment@ao.parliament.nz.

We value originality and effort. Although AI can be helpful in some circumstances, we require you to submit a cover letter and CV that reflects your own voice and experiences.

To find out more about us, see our website: www.ao.parliament.nz.

You must apply online through jobs.govt.nz (you'll find the application form and position description there, too).

Applications close Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

If you have issues logging into jobs.govt.nz, please email jobsiteadministrator@dia.govt.nz for support.