Deputy Registrar

He ara pukenga, he ara tauwhiro, hei whakamana mātā waka

The many pathways of knowledge, the many pathways of social work, upholding the dignity of all

Are you a social work professional who wants to strengthen the profession from within?

The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) / Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is Aotearoa's social worker regulator and lead agency for social worker workforce planning. We protect public safety by ensuring social workers are competent, fit to practise, and accountable. We also strengthen professional practice and provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social work workforce.

As a Crown Entity, it recognizes its Crown-Māori commitment as a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner and are committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown's relationship with Māori, and developing Māori capability.

THE ROLE

This isn't a typical regulatory position. Yes, you'll lead registration functions and manage systems. But at its heart, this role is about being deeply connected to the social work community.

You'll be the person social workers turn to when they're navigating their registration journey - newly qualified practitioners taking their first professional steps, experienced practitioners renewing their annual practising certificates, and students preparing to enter the profession. You'll interpret complex legislation, maintain the register, monitor conditions of practice, and oversee regulatory education functions. Throughout all of this, you'll need to balance regulatory rigour with genuine understanding of what social workers face in their practice.

One day you might be supporting a newly qualified social worker through their first registration application. The next, you're working with an experienced practitioner on a complex exemption case, or ensuring conditions of practice are being properly monitored. You'll ensure our processes are efficient and our systems work well, but you'll never lose sight of the fact that behind every application is a person's career, wellbeing, and commitment to their communities.

You'll lead a team of 7-8 people (with two direct reports and 5-6 indirect reports), and work closely with two other Deputy Registrars (Complaints and Education) as part of the senior management team supporting the Registrar and Chief Executive. Together, you'll ensure SWRB's core functions are delivered effectively and collaboratively.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED

Essential: Proven experience working in social work, social services, or health - this is non-negotiable.

You'll be engaging daily with social workers, students entering the profession, and practitioners in complex registration situations. Your credibility, your ability to understand their world and speak their language, and your capacity to balance empathy with regulatory standards will be critical. This isn't a role where you can learn about social work from the outside - you need to have lived it or worked closely alongside it in health or social services contexts.

A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori as it relates to social services.

You'll understand how Te Tiriti shapes social work practice in Aotearoa and can weave this understanding through your mahi. This goes beyond policy statements - it's about how you engage with Māori practitioners, students, and communities.

Regulatory and statutory experience.

You'll need proven experience administering statutory functions and interpreting complex legislation. While you don't need to know the Social Workers Registration Act 2003 inside out before you start, you should be comfortable working with regulatory legislation and able to get up to speed quickly. A legal or regulatory background will serve you well here.

People leadership capability.

Managing two direct reports and influencing across a wider team of 7-8 requires real skill. You'll need to coach, mentor, create a positive team culture, and ensure your team reaches their full potential while delivering excellent service under pressure.

Strong relationship and communication skills.

You'll represent SWRB externally, engage with diverse stakeholders (from students to employers to regulatory authorities), write Board papers and reports, and have difficult conversations with professionalism and humanity. Your written and oral communication needs to be outstanding.

THE REALITY OF THE ROLE

Some days will be straightforward - processing registrations, updating the register, reporting to the Board. Other days will test your judgement - working through complex exemption applications, interpreting ambiguous legislation, ensuring conditions of practice are monitored effectively, or supporting practitioners through challenging registration processes.

You'll need emotional intelligence to know when to hold firm on standards and when to find creative solutions. You'll need political sensitivity to navigate complex situations. And you'll need resilience, because this work matters deeply and the stakes are high.

SWRB is guided by four core values: doing what's right and just (Matatika), looking after the dignity of others (Manaaki), working together as one (Mahitahi), and being bold and resilient (Māia). These aren't just words - they're how it operates when making difficult decisions and supporting practitioners through challenging times.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

This role sits at the heart of social work in Aotearoa. You'll shape how SWRB supports and regulates a profession that changes lives. You'll ensure the systems and processes used actually work for the people they're meant to serve. You'll protect public safety while strengthening professional practice.

SWRB is a small team (you'll know everyone's name by week two) doing work that genuinely matters. You'll have real influence, genuine autonomy, and colleagues who care deeply about getting this right. You'll go home knowing your work strengthens the profession and ultimately serves the communities social workers support.

If you're a social work professional ready to bring your practice wisdom, regulatory capability, and leadership skills to this critical role, we'd love to hear from you.

The recruitment of this role is being managed by JacksonStone & Partners. Please contact Simon Boyes for further information.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Friday, 14 November 2025

APPLYOR VIEW THE POSITION DESCRIPTION:

REFERENCE:  BH

FURTHER ENQUIRIES:Simon Boyes on