About us
 
The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.
 
We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.
 
As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
 
Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

Data Scientist

• 12-month fixed term / secondment opportunity
• Based at National Office, Wellington
• Are you passionate about using data to make a difference in people’s lives?

Mō te tīma -  About our team

Te Pae Tawhiti – Our Future, is about the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) future role and how we can make a bigger and better difference for New Zealanders. 
 
Te Pae Tawhiti Transformation Programme will deliver services that are easier, more accessible and integrated across employment, housing, and income support, with greater use of partnering.

A significant project within Te Pae Tawhiti is to establish a Digital Employment Service by launching a self-service employment platform that should not only enhance MSD’s digital service for employment but also transform the effectiveness of MSD’s wider employment capability. 

This is part of a significant transformation Te Pae Tawhiti programme for MSD, that will deliver a new service model enabled by new capabilities, systems, and processes to support clients into employment. 

You will need
 
The role is a data analytics champion assigned to a transformation project to help implement a new capability into the Te Pae Tawhiti Programme that strengthens employment outcomes for our clients. You will be involved in designing and tuning our employment taxonomy and matching capabilities. You’ll bring a collaborative approach to ensure dependencies and connections with other workstreams are understood and managed effectively. 
 

This is a once in a generation opportunity to change the way we deliver our services, and to have a significant impact on the lives of New Zealanders. You will be instrumental in developing and implementing a new service helping our clients get better employment opportunities.

We are looking for a candidate who will bring

• Relevant tertiary qualification (particularly, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Statistics, or Operations Research) or equivalent experience.
• Experience using statistical and data science languages (SAS, Python, R, Julia, SQL) to be able to clean and manipulate data from different data sources and extract insights from large datasets. Other programming languages may be an advantage.
• Demonstrated capability to use a range of machine learning techniques such as propensity modelling, survival analysis, regression analysis, profiling, segmentation, association and network analysis to provide solutions across a range of real-world contexts.
• Experience in software engineering and version control tools, and familiarity with cloud platforms is highly desirable.
• Experience in analysis of business and market data and public sector data.
• Ability to use open-source tools and datasets to produce innovative insights and data science products.
• Knowledge of taxonomy structures and processing techniques and linking together a wide range of data to improve desired outcomes. 
• Experience in data visualisation tools and ability to create stories from data.
• Ability to translate information and analysis into outputs which are readily interpreted by highly operational areas and non-technical users.
• Experience in investigating and analysing complex problems and reaching sound conclusions.
• Demonstrated ability to write to a high standard (clear, accurate, concise, appropriate to the audience).
   

Position Description

Data Scientist

Salary range: $102,817.00 - $124,750.00

How to apply

To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.  

Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description. 

All applications must be made online.  If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz

Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work.  This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.

Closing date: Sunday, 11th May 2025

Joining us

Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents.  We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.

MSD has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that encourages, but does not require, employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants, unless the role is identified as requiring vaccination at the time.