Chief of Staff [PN0501]

Chief of Staff [PN0501] 

Te Toi | Office of the Secretary

Permanent/Full Time

WELLINGTON

Ki te puāwai te ahurea, Ka ora te iwi
If culture is thriving, people will be well

Help shape the strategic direction of Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

We’re seeking a Chief of Staff to join Te Toi | Office of the Secretary, an influential role working directly with the Secretary and alongside the Ministry Leadership Team.

Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role
As Chief of Staff, you’ll provide trusted strategic advice and help align leadership, priorities, and performance across the Ministry. You’ll influence how we engage with Ministers, the wider public service, iwi Māori, and help guide strategy, strengthen performance, and lead impactful relationships across government and the cultural sector.

This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity and influence. Someone who can see the big picture while making things happen. You’ll bring strong experience working in Government, with Ministers and senior leaders. You’ll have sound judgement, and the ability to build trust and alignment across diverse perspectives.

This role will play a critical role as the senior integrator for the Ministry.  As a small Ministry we will continue to have high-impact, high-visibility pieces of strategic work that does not naturally sit within one team or portfolio. The Chief of Staff, supported by OCE, will ensure these cross-cutting priorities have appropriate oversight, escalation, and coherence without displacing substantive ownership from the relevant teams.

This is a highly visible role for someone who thrives on complexity, builds trusted relationships, and can turn strategy into action.

If you’re motivated by impact, enjoy working at pace, and want to contribute to an organisation with a big heart and national significance, we’d love to hear from you.

This role requires you to be able to hold a National Security Clearance at Secret level. 

Please download the position description for more details

Me pēhea te tono | How to apply 

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the online process on our Careers Website.

Applications close Friday 17 July 2026.  

For enquiries about this position contact Debbie Moody  [email protected]

Āheinga | Eligibility
If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you must hold current eligibility to work in New Zealand and for Manatū Taonga. Please refer to the New Zealand Immigration Service for further information.

To learn more about Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture & Heritage please explore our Corporate Website (mch.govt.nz)