Strategic Design Lead

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 Interventions team sits within Regulatory Effectiveness and plays a key role in helping WorkSafe address complex workplace health and safety challenges. The team works across the organisation to strengthen intervention design, improve consistency of practice, and ensure WorkSafe's efforts are targeted, evidence-based, and focused on achieving meaningful system outcomes. You'll work alongside experienced specialists, leaders, and delivery teams, influencing how interventions are designed, assessed, and continuously improved across WorkSafe. About the role / Ō te tūranga This is a unique opportunity to lead the development and stewardship of WorkSafe's intervention design practice. You'll shape the frameworks, tools, and approaches that enable high-quality intervention design across the organisation, while coaching others, providing expert advice, and driving greater consistency in how WorkSafe responds to complex health and safety challenges. Your work will help ensure interventions are evidence-based, problem-focused, and positioned to deliver better outcomes for workers across Aotearoa. What You'll Do/ Ko tōu ake mahi Shape and steward WorkSafe's approach to intervention design Develop the frameworks, tools, and methods that enable high-quality practice Influence strategic decisions through expert design advice and thought leadership Coach and empower others to strengthen organisational design capability Bring people together to share knowledge, learn from experience, and improve outcomes Turn evidence and insights into practical interventions that make a difference Drive organisation-wide improvements in design quality, consistency, and impact Help ensure WorkSafe's interventions are aligned, effective, and focused on achieving better outcomes for Aotearoa What You'll Bring / Ko ngā pukenga ōu Deep experience designing interventions that address complex organisational or system challenges
Expertise in applying strategic design approaches, frameworks, and theory of change thinking
A passion for building capability through coaching, facilitation, and shared learning
The credibility to influence senior stakeholders and shape better decisions
Strong analytical thinking and the ability to translate insights into meaningful impact
Experience connecting design, research, evaluation, and delivery to drive effective outcomes
Relevant qualifications or equivalent experience in design, policy, regulatory, or related fields Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.  Salary range / Awhe utu As part of our remuneration framework, the full salary range for this role is $130,588-$171,709. The expected appointment base salary is $130,588 -$144,295 (KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contributions are additional). We offer a range of benefits including: 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) How to apply / Me pēhea te tono Click Apply, complete the application form, 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. Learn more about working with us: Careers | WorkSafe. 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 [email protected] 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. Kaimahi whose roles were affected by the structure change will be given preference for all vacancies and will be considered in the first instance. Applications close: 11.59pm, Monday, 14 September 2026