Chief Operating Officer Immigration

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE Lead the delivery and performance of New Zealand’s visa operations Make a significant contribution to New Zealand’s immigration system Permanent full time | Wellington location Salary Range: $255,498 - $319,373 TFR The Chief Operating Officer, Immigration is a key senior leadership role responsible for the delivery, performance and continuous improvement of Immigration New Zealand's visa operations. This role plays a critical part in ensuring the immigration system remains responsive, resilient and customer-focused while supporting the successful delivery of future transformation initiatives. As a member of the Immigration Leadership Team, you will help shape the strategic direction, performance and culture of Immigration New Zealand. About the Role - Tēnei tūranga: In this role, you will: Lead the delivery and performance of visa operations, ensuring visa processing is consistent, stable and responsive to changing demand. Set operational priorities and direction, using data and insights to make informed decisions across people, risk, processes and technology. Build a clear, integrated view of the operating environment, bringing together demand, workforce, policy, technology and planned change. Anticipate and actively manage operational risk, ensuring emerging issues are understood and addressed early. Build a high-performing and adaptable workforce, strengthening leadership capability, talent and mobility across Immigration New Zealand. Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement, ensuring changes to policy, processes and technology are aligned with operational capacity and customer needs. Contribute to the Our Future Services Programme, to transform the immigration system. Lead across organisational boundaries, building strong partnerships across Immigration New Zealand, MBIE, government and external stakeholders to achieve the best overall outcomes. Contribute collectively as a member of the Immigration Leadership Team, helping shape the direction and performance of Immigration New Zealand as a whole. We are looking for a highly credible and influential senior leader who can operate effectively in a complex, high-profile environment. The immigration system never stops, and we are looking for a leader who has the flexibility to respond to the demands of the system including outside of core working hours. Skills and Experience Required - Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana: You will bring: Proven senior leadership experience in a large public sector or complex service delivery organisation. Knowledge of immigration system service delivery is preferable. Significant experience leading operational performance, organisational change and service delivery improvement. Strong strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to turn data, insight and emerging risk into clear operational decisions. Outstanding people leadership, with a track record of building capability, developing talent and creating high-performing, inclusive teams. Strong relationship and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leaders, Ministers and Ministers’ offices, central agencies, government partners and external stakeholders. Sound financial, corporate and business management experience, including stewardship of significant resources and delegations. The ability to communicate complex issues clearly and support timely, well-judged decisions. Strong knowledge of the machinery of government and the New Zealand public sector. Demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and integrating Te Ao Māori, Te Reo Māori and tikanga into leadership practice. Be a New Zealand citizen or hold a permanent resident visa. Consent to and satisfactorily complete a credit check. Ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Security Clearance. Click Here for more information. You are a values-driven leader who puts people and customers at the centre of decision-making. You lead with integrity, build trust and credibility, and are comfortable making difficult decisions in a dynamic and sometimes high-pressure environment. You bring resilience, sound judgement and a commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for New Zealand. About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE: MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders. We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable. People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours. Mahi Tahi – Better Together Māia – Bold and brave Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future Pono Me Te Tika – Own It Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'. MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities. E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapa kua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga. How to Apply - Me pēhea te tono: Click here to view a position description . When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role. All applications must be submitted via our online process. We can't wait to hear from you! Email Roxana Anderson at roxana.anderson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/20411 if you have any further questions. Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday, 22 November 2026. It is anticipated interviews for this role will take place on Friday 27 November and details will be confirmed directly with shortlisted candidates.