Lead - Service Design

• Fixed Term / Secondment until 26 June 2026

This role is a fixed term position in response to increased demand within our high priority work programmes. We are surging in people and resources in response to these priorities.

Mō te tūranga mahi | About the role

The Service Design Lead will identify opportunities on how to improve the lifecycle of work at the Ministry - taking a user-centred approach to developing services.  The focus of this role is on making systems, tools and services work better for the end-user and for the people who administer these services.  You will be part of the Transformation and Change team, which is focused on transforming the organisation and making our systems and processes more efficient for everyone.

Being supported by our Senior Service Designers and in collaboration with other Service Design Leads, you will work alongside our enabling services teams, organisational SMEs and our Change Managers to drive improvements in the Business, Services and Transformation business group and across the wider Ministry. You will need to build strong internal relationships and partnerships, to identify pain points, understand user needs, and collaboratively develop new ways of working that will delight our internal "customers". You will also act as a coach or mentor to help upskill colleagues in human centred design methodology.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Significant demonstrated experience leading service design projects, from assessing how processes and services run, to the changes needed to make them more efficient and customer centric and developing sustainable solutions.
• Experience in designing service design projects that deliver effective results by selecting the best design tools and approaches to meet the operating context.
• Strong stakeholder engagement capability: able to quickly build credibility and trust across diverse groups and bring kaimahi on the service design journey.
• Strong workshop design, facilitation and presentation capability and experience including presenting and advising senior leaders,
• Experience supporting teams and SMEs to become more customer centric in their ways of working.
• The ability to set priorities and to achieve deadlines and project and programme outputs in a fast paced, ambiguous and complex environment.
• Experience designing new processes, functions and services to meet emerging business needs.
• Strong customer focus and human centred design / design thinking experience.
• Process improvement and change management experience with strong influencing capabilities.
• Solution focussed approach with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Personal drive, enthusiasm, curiosity, and a can-do attitude.

Whānuitanga Utu ā-Tau | Salary range

Salary range for this role is $119,974 to $145,706 pa.  Appointment within this range will be based on skills and experience.

Ngā hua ka puta i te mahi ki MfE | Benefits of working at MfE

• a flexible working approach to embrace a healthy work-life blend
• agile ways of working, allowing you variety and challenges across the organisation as we work as 'One MfE'
• active employee networks including Māori Rōpū, Asian Network, Neurodivergent and Disability Networks, Women's Network, Tagata Moana (Pacific Peoples' Network), and Rainbow Network
• opportunities for development and education.

Check out other benefits of joining us and hear what our people say about Working at MfE | Ministry for the Environment.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

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

If you require further information about this position please contact   The position description is available via our careers centre 

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and actively strive to be a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture.  We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.  We are proud to be a Rainbow Tick and Gender Tick certified organisation and are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.

We want to ensure any accessibility needs you may have are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all.  Therefore, please let us know if there are any adjustments or support we can offer to make the recruitment process more accessible to you.  Please contact us at  if you would like to discuss any accessibility needs you may have.

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:  Sunday 16th November 2025