Change Lead at Civil Aviation Authority of NZ, Wellington

The Civil Aviation Authority and the Aviation Security Service offer distinctively different career opportunities and embrace diverse talent. All jobs at the Authority contribute to ensuring safe and secure skies to help New Zealand fly.

The Civil Aviation Authority is the regulatory arm of our organisation and the Aviation Security Service is the nationwide provider for aviation security.

• Shape future aviation via high-impact transformation
• Lead complex change across organisation and sector
• Deliver meaningful outcomes in a safety-focused environment

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and pragmatic Change Lead to join our Business Transformation Programme for a 12-month fixed term.

This is a senior role responsible for shaping and delivering the end-to-end change approach across a complex, multi-workstream programme.

You will lead all change, communication, and stakeholder engagement activities — ensuring both our people and aviation sector participants understand, adopt, and embed new ways of working.

This role is not purely strategic. You will be expected to operate as a hands-on practitioner, stepping into complex areas, leading critical engagement, and ensuring change is delivered in practice — not just planned.

About Business Transformation Programme

The Business Transformation Programme is a multi-year initiative focused on enabling the organisation to operate as a modern, intelligence-led regulator. The programme will deliver improvements to systems, processes, data, and ways of working, ensuring the organisation can effectively manage risk, meet its statutory obligations, and support a safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation system. It brings together multiple workstreams to drive coordinated change and deliver long-term value for both the organisation and the wider system.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and lead the programme-wide change strategy
• Drive a coordinated approach to change, communications, and stakeholder engagement
• Ensure impacts are understood and managed across internal teams and the aviation sector
• Lead stakeholder engagement at senior levels, including ELT
• Oversee change delivery across multiple workstreams, ensuring quality and consistency
• Personally deliver key change artefacts and lead critical engagement in high-risk areas
• Monitor adoption, manage risks, and adjust approaches to ensure successful outcomes
• Work closely with programme and business leaders to embed sustainable change

For more information on the role please view the position description

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone with:  

• Extensive experience leading change in large, complex programmes
• Strong track record of influencing senior leaders and driving adoption
• Experience working across diverse stakeholder groups, including external or sector-facing environments
• Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on delivery level
• Deep understanding of change methodologies (e.g. Prosci, ADKAR)
• Strong judgement, resilience, and ability to work in ambiguity
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

About us

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is New Zealand’s aviation safety and security regulator. We play a critical role in protecting the travelling public, supporting the aviation sector, and strengthening New Zealand’s international reputation.

Our vision is simple and powerful: A safe and secure aviation system – so people are safe and feel safe when they fly.

Our values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration guide everything we do. We’re committed to diversity, inclusion, and creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to contribute.

Why Join Us?

• Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Vision assistance
• Flu Vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Programme

Ready to Apply?

If you are an experienced, pragmatic change professional who thrives in complex environments and is committed to delivering meaningful, sustained change in practice, we’d love to hear fron you.

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submitting your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the skills required for this role.

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, contact Shannon Ransley at recruitment@caa.govt.nz

Applications close: 7 June 2026

Please be aware that we may start shortlisting as applications come in. We encourage early applications, as the advertisement may close sooner than stated.