Manager, Strategic Assessment and Prioritisation

• Lead WorkSafe's assessment of risk, harm and intervention priorities
• Shape where regulatory effort can have the greatest impact
• Permanent role, Wellington preferred; other locations may be considered

About Us
He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

Hello, Kia ora, Noa’ia, Talofa lava, Mauri, Mālō e lelei, Tālofa, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālō ni, Kia orana, nǐ hǎo, Kamusta.

WorkSafe New Zealand | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa is the primary workplace health and safety regulator. Our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi comes home healthy and safe. We live by our values: 

• Whakakotahi – we are united in a strong purpose 
• Kōrero mai – we engage meaningfully 
• Tiakina mai – we are entrusted with a duty of care 

About your team / Ko te tīma
Regulatory Effectiveness is a new group established at WorkSafe to strengthen regulatory focus and improve how WorkSafe understands risk, designs interventions, and evaluates impact.

The Strategic Assessment and Prioritisation team sits within WorkSafe's newly established Regulatory Effectiveness group. The team plays a critical role in understanding where harm is occurring across the system, identifying where regulatory intervention can have the greatest impact, and providing the evidence and insights that inform organisational priorities and decision-making.

About the role / Ō te tūranga
As Manager, Strategic Assessment and Prioritisation, you will lead the team responsible for assessing risks, harms and intervention options across New Zealand's health and safety system. You will guide the team as they bring together evidence, intelligence and system insights to help WorkSafe understand where to focus its efforts, articulate the case for intervention, and provide a strong foundation for future intervention design and delivery.


What You'll Do/ Ko tōu ake mahi 

• Lead the assessment of risks, harms and intervention opportunities 
• Develop evidence-based insights that inform regulatory decision-making 
• Build clear assessment narratives that support organisational priorities 
• Define and communicate risks, trade-offs and expected impacts 
• Work across WorkSafe to build confidence in assessment outputs 
• Lead and develop a high-performing analytical team

What You'll Bring / Ko ngā pukenga ōu 

• Experience leading intelligence, assessment or analytical functions 
• Strong ability to synthesise complex information into clear insights 
• Experience assessing risks, trade-offs and system-level impacts 
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills 
• Strong critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making capability 
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. 

Salary range / Awhe utu The expected appointment base salary for this role is $168,932. KiwiSaver or SSRSS employer contributions are additional.

From 1 April 2026, our KiwiSaver employer contribution increased to 3.5%.

We offer a range of benefits including:

• Free life insurance for the duration of your employment
• Health insurance & eyecare discounts
• $400 home workstation contribution 
• 5 weeks annual leave 
• 15 days sick leave 
• A Reward and Recognition Framework that celebrates the impact our kaimahi make – your mahi matters
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee-led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities (Rainbow, Pacific, Women’s and Tū Rangatira Māori Network)

Location
Wellington is preferred, reflecting where much of the organisation’s planning, implementation and business design activity is based.

Other locations would be considered for a suitable candidate who is comfortable with regular travel and investing time in building relationships across the organisation.


How to apply / Me pēhea te tono 
Click Apply and upload your CV and cover letter.

AI can be a helpful tool when preparing your application, but what matters most to us is you. Please ensure your CV, cover letter, and responses reflect your own skills, experiences, and perspective. We want to hear your real story - your passion, your personality, and what makes you unique. Don’t let AI do all the talking - let it support you, not replace you.

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent. We believe different perspectives strengthen our mahi and help create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. 

If you encounter accessibility barriers in completing the application or require adjustments or support to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you, contact worksafe@inside.co.nz for a confidential kōrero.

This vacancy has been established as part of changes to WorkSafe's organisational structure after a review of WorkSafe's operating model identified opportunities to improve role clarity, ways of working and organisational effectiveness. As part of these changes, WorkSafe has established a number of new roles to ensure we are well placed to meet expectations now and in the future.


Applications close: 5pm, 17th September 2026.