Start of main content Design Lead

About Us

What is the most important thing in the world, it is people, it is people, it is people

He aha te mea nui o tenei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

WorkSafe New Zealand/ Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa, is the primary workplace health and safety regulator - our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi (work) comes home healthy and safe. Our kaimahi (employees) are passionate about our vision and embrace and demonstrate our Matapono WorkSafe Values through the mahi they do:

Whakakotahi - we're united in a strong purpose
Korero mai - we engage meaningfully
Tiakina mai - we're entrusted with a duty of care.
We offer a range of benefits including:

Free life insurance
Discounts on health insurance and eye care
Five weeks annual leave
15 days sick leave and
Learning and professional development opportunities
There are a growing number of employee-led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities, such as our Rainbow Network, Pacific Network, Women's Network, and Tu Rangatira Maori Network.

About your team / Ko te tima

The Commissioning team drives the development and implementation of regulatory policies, interventions, and guidance to effect improved work health and safety practices. Leading with agility in a complex health and safety system and utilising co-design approaches, we deliver policies, products and resources that respond to ever-changing work dynamics and risks

About the role / O te turanga

This role will drive the end-to-end delivery of innovative regulatory and product design projects. Working across managers and project leads, you'll coordinate resources, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to ensure successful outcomes-on time, within budget, and to a consistently high standard. While not directly managing a team, you'll play a key leadership role by overseeing planning, maintaining quality, and navigating dependencies and competing priorities to bring design initiatives to life.

We're looking for a bold, high-energy person with drive - someone who's not afraid to speak up, challenge the norm, and drive projects forward. You'll work closely with the business, leading with creativity, confidence, and a get-it-done attitude. This isn't a role for spectators. We need someone others can rely on, who brings people together and delivers real results.

What You'll Do/ Ko tou ake mahi

Collaborate across the Commissioning unit to define project timeframes, budgets, and plans.
Coordinate and forecast resource needs, ensuring the right skills are available and utilised effectively across projects.
Manage competing demands, resolve resource conflicts, and maintain oversight of multiple workstreams to meet quality and timeline expectations.
Track operational costs and ensure efficient use of resources, including commissioned support (e.g. communications).
Proactively identify and manage risks, issues, and project dependencies.
Facilitate collaboration across teams and disciplines, ensuring alignment and consistent approaches.
Communicate progress, challenges, and insights, while ensuring interventions align with strategic goals and promote continuous improvement.
What You'll Bring / Ko nga pukenga ou

Project/programme management expertise with ability to manage concurrent workstreams
Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence at senior levels
Resource planning and capacity management capabilities
Understanding of intervention design methodologies and frameworks in a regulatory environment
Understanding of project governance and risk management practices
Demonstrated experience applying quality assurance approaches
Proven track record managing complex delivery of projects
Experience coordinating outputs from cross-functional teams
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.

Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

The full position description is available from the advert on our careers centre: WorkSafe New Zealand


Salary range / Awhe utu

As part of our remuneration framework the full salary range for the position is from $10+,654 to $144,831, with the appointee's salary reflecting their skills and experience in similar roles. Note: KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contribution is additional to/on top of your base salary.


How to apply / Me pehea te tono -

Click the apply link, complete an application form and submit a copy of your CV and cover letter.

For further information please contact careers@worksafe.govt.nz with any queries, or to find out more about working for us, go to Careers | WorkSafe.

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life. We value the experience your point of difference could bring to us.

Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you. We look forward to reviewing your application and getting to know more about you.

Applications close on Tuesday 6 May 2025.