position

description

Position: Project Manager

Children’s Worker No
Location: National Office
Group: Policy
Reporting to: Director Secretariat
Issue Date: March 2018
Delegated Authority: Nil
Staff Responsibility: No

Welfare Overhaul Secretariat

The Government has committed, through the Labour/Greens Confidence and Supply
Agreement, to overhaul the Welfare System. This work will be led by an independent
group of Experts, supported by a Secretariat of officials from MSD, the Treasury and
Inland Revenue.

The Secretariat will be responsible for assisting the EAG to complete its work by
responding to requests from the EAG, seeking information and advice from agencies,
leading the process to brief EAG members on issues and options within the welfare
system, and drafting the EAG’s advice to Ministers.

Close engagement with agencies such as MSD, the Treasury, Inland Revenue and
MBIE will be required to deliver the work programme. The Secretariat will work with
other agencies closely, sometimes coordinating analysts in MSD, Inland Revenue
and the Treasury on particular streams of work. Secretariat members will require both
analytical and commissioning skills.

The Secretariat will be based within MSD, with accountability to the Chair of the
EAG.

Position Description Approved By:

_____________________________________________
Deputy Chief Executive, Policy

Date: ……./……./…….
Purpose of the Position
The role of the Project Manager is to coordinate and support the delivery of the
Welfare Overhaul. The primary objective is to support the Director Secretariat in
ensuring successful completion of the Expert Advisory Group’s work programme.
The Project Manager will support the Director through providing project management
for the Secretariat. This will involve working with the Director Secretariat, the
Secretariat members, and contributing government agencies to ensure a planned
and managed delivery of the overall work programme.
The Project Manager will need to develop and set up the project management
systems, tools and processes for the work programme and then coordinate and
maintain the ongoing project management function.

Working Relationships
 Director Secretariat and Secretariat members
 Ministers and their offices
 Members of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group, particularly the Chair
 Chief Executive MSD
 Deputy Chief Executive, Policy MSD
 Members of the Leadership Team (the CE and other DCEs)
 Representatives in Ministries, Government Departments, Central Agencies and
Crown Entities and their Chief Executives
 Young people, disabled people and representatives from different ethnic groups
 Welfare advocacy groups and NGOs
 Members of the public
 Iwi networks and Maori interest groups

Project Manager 2
 Key Accountabilities:

Key Result Area Accountabilities

 Defines and implements key project management tools and
Project Planning & processes, guidelines, roles and responsibilities (e.g. risk
Repor management, planning, estimating, progress tracking,
ting documentation, documentation controls etc).
 With the Director Secretariat and Chair Welfare Expert
Advisory Group, develops the overall work programme for
the welfare overhaul.
 Work with other members of the Secretariat to lead planning
on particular workstreams as required.
 Coordinates regular internal and external project reporting.
 Promotes good communication both internally and
externally.
 Provides central coordination for the processes and
repository for all project documentation and manuals.
 Contributes to the development and manages the Project
Management Plan and any other plans as required (including
schedules)
 Implements continuous improvement activities for all
processes and standards
 Manages and/or coordinates the project to ensure delivery
Project of the overall project in accordance with the Director’s
Management needs
 Building capability in project management.
 Providing specialist input as appropriate to the project
process
 Providing regular status reports on the status of the
programme
 Provides advice/support to the Director and Secretariat
Advice and members
Support  Advises the Director on prioritisation and resolution of issues
within the project.
 Escalates issues to the Director as appropriate.
 Maintains effective relationships with internal and external
Relationship stakeholders to the Secretariat
Management  Proactively deliver timely advice and highly professional support in
accordance with established Ministry frameworks across the
organisation.
 Identify common areas of interest emerging across stakeholders and
proactively develop opportunities for collaboration.
Work Programme
 Contribute to other areas of the work programme as agreed
with the Manager in accordance with the needs of the
Ministry, professional areas of interest, and/or personal
development plan.

Project Manager 3
 Technical/Professional Knowledge and Experience

 Extensive experience in project/change management, ideally with some in the public

service arena.
 Demonstrated ability to see the "big picture" and understand the strategic context of
projects.
 Proven decision-making experience and leadership demonstrated in co-ordinating and
integrating projects.
 Ability to use office software packages, such as word processor, spreadsheets, project
planning etc.
 Demonstrated ability to understand financial data and information, cost out all options
and support recommendations with quantitative data.
 Able to work with numbers and produce and interpret relevant statistics.
 Excellent communication, self-management and interpersonal skills and excellent
documentation skills.
 Proven experience of managing complex relationships, both internally and externally,
with the ability to establish credibility at all levels
 Proven project management experience, particularly in the management of
multi-faceted, complex and multi-stakeholder projects
 Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, analyse complex problems
and suggest appropriate solutions
 Experience in investigating and analysing complex problems, and reaching sound
conclusions
 Demonstrated ability to write to a high standard (clear, accurate, concise, appropriate to
the audience).

Attributes/Success Factors

 Flexible and adaptable

 Experience in significant public sector projects
 Experienced in working in a cross-agency/multi-stakeholder programme environment
 Outstanding interpersonal skills
 Strong and effective communicator
 Project management, planning
 Knowledge and experience of change/transformation programmes
 Knowledge of government systems and processes
 Sound thinker, demonstrated good judgement
 Solid team player
 Welcomes and values diversity, and contributes to an inclusive working environment
where differences are acknowledged and respected

Other Requirements
 Willing to travel to fulfil job requirements

Project Manager 4