Senior Executive Assistant to Chief Executive at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Senior Executive Assistant to Chief Executive

Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children

• High-impact role supporting the Chief Executive of a major public service agency
• Wellington-based
• Permanent, fulltime role

Are you a diplomatic, strategically minded professional who excels at building strong relationships and navigating complexity? Do you bring exceptional judgement, discretion, and proactive leadership to your work?

If so, this is a rare opportunity to support our newly appointed Chief Executive and play a central role in the Office of the Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children is committed to ensuring tamariki and rangatahi are at the heart of what we do. Our values guide and shape our work:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

We aspire for Aotearoa to be the best place in the world to be a child. Achieving this requires strong partnership with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations, ensuring Māori voices are central to the solutions we deliver.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

This is an opportunity to bring your expertise to a pivotal role at the centre of the organisation. As Senior Executive Assistant, you will provide high-level, confidential executive support to the Chief Executive and act as a trusted advisor, strategic partner and key representative.  

You will:

• Manage complex and dynamic priorities with confidence and foresight
• Exercise a strategically minded approach and strong political awareness
• Act as a gatekeeper and ambassador for the Chief Executive, engaging with senior leaders across government
• Build strong partnerships with Te Riu (our leadership team), Chief Executive Advisors, other senior leaders and a wide cross-government network
• Oversee critical responsibilities including diary management, travel, executive logistics, briefing coordination and high-level correspondence
• This role is central to ensuring the Chief Executive is well-supported, well-briefed, and able to deliver on priorities that impact tamariki, whanau and communities across Aotearoa.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

You will be an accomplished Senior or Principal Executive Assistant with extensive experience supporting senior leaders in large, complex environments. You will bring:

• A strategically minded approach with the ability to set and manage objectives, deadlines, timeframes, and priorities under pressure
• Exceptional organisational capability and proactive leadership
• A resilient and adaptable mindset
• Absolute confidentiality, integrity and professionalism
• Strong judgement and the ability to manage complex relationships
• Understanding of New Zealand’s machinery of government and policy processes

Cultural competence, including knowledge of tikanga Maori and Pacific cultures

Above all, you will bring a calm, confident presence and a commitment to enabling the Chief Executive and organisation to excel.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

We offer:

• Competitive remuneration
• A supportive, values driven team environment
• A strong commitment to professional development and well-being
• Meaningful, high-impact work contributing to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi

To learn more about the benefits of work at  Oranga Tamariki, visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/

Me pēhea te tuku tono  | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter that clearly articulates:

• Why you are the right fit for this role
• Why this opportunity at Oranga Tamariki motivates you
• What you will bring to support and enable the Chief Executive

If you are an existing Oranga Tamariki employee, please ensure you apply using your Oranga Tamariki email login.

For any questions about the role, contact  Info_recruit@ot.govt.nz

Applications close at midnight on Thursday 12th February 2026

Please note: We will be  reviewing applications and interviewing candidates as they are received, so early application is encouraged.

Applicants should ensure they are familiar with our Code of Conduct which includes expectations that employees present to work free from the influence of drugs and alcohol.