Work for us
We are a small civilian agency that has fewer than 150 people who come from a variety of backgrounds. We believe our small size is an advantage because each person can see the results of their own effort in what we collectively deliver. In this way, every person counts. This contributes to very high levels of engagement – among the highest in the public sector.
This role is a great combination of my work to date and my university education
Managing Principal, Development Branch Jordan
I am getting to work in an area I’ve been passionate about for years. My Masters thesis focused on defence and security issues and I have continued to follow international security developments throughout my career.
After spending some time working in the international relations field, including an offshore posting, I was excited at the opportunity to join the Ministry and work on Defence issues on a daily basis. Getting to be involved in the day to day development of defence policy and working with a great team to provide the best advice possible to Government is always exciting.
I joined the Ministry because of the opportunity to have a significant influence on the way the organisation goes about its work.
Practice Manager, Programmes and Projects Stuart
The Ministry operates some of the largest and most complex capital expenditure projects in Government. My role, working closely with my counterpart from the New Zealand Defence Force, is to develop the best practice standards and skills to support the delivery of these projects.
The relationship between the Ministry and the New Zealand Defence Force to jointly deliver major projects is a unique model, and this presents an opportunity to work in an organisational environment unlikely to be experienced elsewhere.
I joined the Ministry because of the opportunity to have a significant influence on the way the organisation goes about its work, the unique operating environment, the interesting projects, and to work with a team of highly skilled professionals.
The Ministry's transformation programme has helped me understand ways we can continually evolve our work to make sure it is properly focussed and effective.
Managing Principal, Ministerial and Executive Services Adrian
Adrian has experience supporting executive government – with support on the day-to-day activity of Ministers’ Offices, Cabinet decision-making, the machinery of government, and the reporting of government activities and performance.
Adrian has worked in a variety of departments - including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the State Services Commission, the Ministry of Health and now the Ministry of Defence. He has also provided temporary support in a range of Ministers’ Offices for the Health, State Services and Defence portfolios.
His career has been focused on supporting the interface where departments work with Ministers to build and deliver on the Government’s work programme, and particularly supporting subject matter experts to understand the needs of their Minister and effectively communicate important and complex solutions to problems facing New Zealanders. This includes supporting the public to understand government policy and activities. This work is mainly delivered through responses to information requests to Ministers and departments, telling the department's story to select committee, and through formal publications such as Statements of Intent and Annual Reports.
In the case of Defence, Adrian’s work involves balancing the vital need to protect national security and commercial information with the need to provide information about the one-third of the government's capital spend going into Defence.
The most rewarding parts of Adrian’s career have been to support those affected by major national disasters - both in relation to Cabinet decision making on the response to the Canterbury Earthquakes and supporting the Ministry of Defence's staff following the loss of our Wellington headquarters from the Kaikoura Earthquake.
I really enjoy working with such an interesting and talented group of people.
Deputy Director, Policy Branch Simon
After a number of years in the New Zealand Army and working for another government department I joined the Ministry of Defence in 2006 as a Principal Advisor Computing and Information Technology. Since then I have worked on wide range projects including command and control systems, frigate self-defence weapons, helicopters, and work force and financial modelling.
I currently work as the Deputy Director Policy Branch providing advice to the Government on a number of challenging policy issues.
I really enjoy working with such an interesting and talented group of people. Much of the work in the Ministry is collaborative, both with the Defence Force and a wide range of other government agencies and stakeholders. It is a great opportunity to develop wide networks and exposure to the machinery of government.
In 2009 I was appointed to the team that worked on the first Defence White paper for 13 years. This work involved reviewing the entire Defence organisation over an 18-month period and presenting options to Government about the future force structure and major capabilities our Defence Force would need to meet the Government’s objectives.
The Ministry also supported me when I did part-time post graduate study, and I continue to serve as a member of the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army, which has included a seven month operational deployment.
The Ministry actively encourages a flexible working environment. It’s a great place to work while raising a young family.
Director, Development Branch Sophie
I spent the first 10 plus years of my career at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), working in the Pacific and Middle East areas with postings to the Cook Islands and most recently to Samoa as Deputy High Commissioner. I took a secondment to the Ministry of Defence while working at MFAT, expecting to be placed in International Branch. Instead I spent a year working on capability projects for the Army. I enjoyed it so much, a few years later I applied for a permanent role.
The work is interesting and challenging. You get the best of both worlds, working in a small team (the Ministry) closely alongside a large organisation (NZDF). You’re often thrown into teams with diverse backgrounds and knowledge and are constantly learning about systems, technologies and operating environments.