overview

New Zealand’s public sector offers a wide range of full-time and part-time work, from police to policy officers and project managers, welfare support workers to scientists and lawyers. 

Whatever your role, working in the public service is a chance to serve your community and make a difference by helping to ensure New Zealand is prosperous, safe and environmentally sustainable. In the past few years there has been an increase in the visibility of the public service which has highlighted its innovation and creativity in solving problems.

Deployment and user adoption of digital technologies advanced many years in a matter of weeks. As a result, tech roles from data scientist to software engineer are in high and increasing demand in the public service (see our dedicated tech in-demand section to find out more). The government’s continued investment in infrastructure and the improvement of government services’ customer experience offering has also driven a demand for project management and change management roles.

key facts.

  • cultural understanding

    • Public sector workers are expected to engage with Māori and to understand Māori perspectives.

  • flexible working

    • Across its wide range of customer-facing and support roles, the New Zealand public sector has deployed a flexible approach to work arrangements.
    • This has resulted in a balance of on-site and at-home work, which aligns with the trend of more New Zealanders interacting with the public sector digitally.

  • impact of net zero

    • The drive to reduce energy, emissions and waste.
    • New Zealand’s public sector is playing a key role in advising businesses and communities on how to become more sustainable. 

in-demand skills & qualifications for procurement specialists.

  • tasks and duties

    • Liaising with operational teams and internal project managers to determine product and service needs.
    • Designing and overseeing contract procedures.
    • Monitoring the availability of providers of services and goods.
    • Developing strategies for procuring, storing, and distributing goods or services and maintaining stock levels.
    • Nurturing relationships with suppliers.
    • Identifying and assessing potential new suppliers.
    • Expense management.
    • Sustainability.

  • skills

    • In-depth financial analysis and planning.
    • Highly developed negotiating skills.
    • Procurement contract management.
    • Understanding of relevant software.

  • training and qualifications

    • A degree or postgraduate qualification in business, supply chain management or a relevant subject.
    • Accreditation can be achieved by becoming a full member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).

  • career switch

    • Jobs outside of supply chain and operations possess skills that are transferable into procurement careers, including analysts (particularly supply chain analysts) and project managers.
    • Also, buyers in retail and manufacturing have a strong understanding of what makes good procurement.

in-demand skills & qualifications for commercial managers.

  • tasks and duties

    • Development of financial plans including budgeting and forecasting.
    • Management of budgets and expenses.
    • Analysing business performance.
    • Monitoring revenue, profitability, pricing and cost of goods.
    • Providing analysis of commercial opportunities.

  • skills

    • Strong commercial and business nous.
    • Excellent attention to detail and analytic skills.
    • Advanced negotiation techniques.
    • Highly developed interpersonal skills to manage relationships both internally and externally.

  • training and qualifications

    • A relevant tertiary qualification in a business, commercial or finance discipline is desirable, or extensive experience in commercial business.

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in-demand skills & qualifications for change managers.

  • tasks and duties

    • Developing plans and strategies to deliver change.
    • Identifying and outlining road maps and potential problems.
    • Communicating with and winning buy-in from affected staff.
    • Monitoring and assessing progress and results of transition.
    • Embedding change into business as usual.

  • skills

    • Strong organisational and planning skills.
    • Understanding of the psychology of change.
    • Problem-solving abilities.
    • Project management expertise.
    • High attention to detail.
    • Able to motivate and inspire.
    • Excellent communication skills.

  • training and qualifications

    • Change management is a process, which can be carried out by people from different backgrounds. Human resources, project management or personnel are often involved in change management.
    • A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject is desirable, but accreditation from the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ) is a recognised way into the profession.

  • career switch

    • People with a background in HR, project management and psychology see change management as a natural job progression.

Construction project managers specialise in the planning, management and execution of government construction projects, from schools and libraries to municipal buildings large and small, as well as major housing developments.

IT project managers organise direct, control and coordinate IT projects such as analysing IT needs and specifying the technological solutions; directing IT strategies and policies; overseeing IT installations and providing the necessary training, and overseeing the security of IT systems.

Infrastructure project managers oversee developments and maintenance of different types of infrastructure, including airports and rail, power and energy plants, waste management and communication systems.

in-demand skills & qualifications for project managers.

  • tasks and duties

    • Leading project planning sessions.
    • Managing large and diverse teams.
    • Meeting deadlines.
    • Managing relationships with stakeholders.
    • Designing, reviewing and submitting contracts.
    • Participating in tender processes.
    • Designing risk-mitigation plans.
    • Conducting detailed project reviews and collating reports.
    • Optimising and improving processes.

  • skills

    • Strong leadership skills.
    • Stakeholder engagement.
    • Risk management expertise.
    • Hybrid and agile planning methodologies.
    • Excellent IT skills.

  • training and qualifications

    • A New Zealand Certificate in Project Management will prepare you to work in a procurement team.
    • For senior roles, a Graduate Diploma of Project Management or a Bachelor of Business Management may be required.
    • You can also register for international accreditation with the Project Management Institute (PMI).

  • career switch

    • People with a background in project management in the private sector are in demand for similar roles within the public sector.

in-demand skills & qualifications for product owners.

  • tasks and duties

    • Collaborating with prospective product users.
    • Clarifying the product vision for the development team.
    • Developing the product road map.
    • Overseeing design and development.
    • Monitoring and evaluating product progress.
    • Liaising with stakeholders.

  • skills

    • In-depth understanding of product development and user-centred design principles.
    • Strong grasp of design quality standards.
    • Excellent market analysis skills.
    • Effective verbal and written communication.
    • Able to collaborate with and lead large teams.
    • Highly organised and able to prioritise tasks effectively.

  • training and qualifications

    • Potential Product Owners would typically require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering or a related field, with some background or training in product management providing a positive addition.

in-demand skills & qualifications for policy advisors.

  • tasks and duties

    • Sourcing and analysing insights to formulate policy.
    • Collecting information for distillation into written reports.
    • Responding to government requests.
    • Monitoring the rollout of policies and identifying issues.
    • Keeping up to date with the latest legislation.
    • Consulting with internal and external stakeholders.

  • skills

    • Highly developed analytical thinking.
    • Excellent research capabilities.
    • Strong written and verbal communication.
    • Exceptional interpersonal skills.
    • Highly organised and able to quickly respond to changing requests.

  • training and qualifications

    • Most organisations looking to hire a Policy Advisor would require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum, with a Master of Politics and Policy or other related postgraduate study being highly desirable.

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