Strategy and Planning Manager

Kāinga Ora is seeking an experienced Strategy and Planning Manager to lead the development and evolution of our Technology Strategy and help guide critical technology investment decisions across the organisation. In this influential senior leadership role within the Digital IT Strategy and Portfolio team, you will be responsible for ensuring our technology investments, portfolio priorities, and digital roadmaps align with organisational goals, government direction, financial sustainability requirements, and emerging industry trends. Working at the intersection of strategy, investment, and executive decision-making, you will provide trusted, evidence‑based advice to senior leaders and play a key role in informing some of the most significant technology decisions across Kāinga Ora. You will lead the strategy function with a high degree of autonomy, driving the quality, rigour, and delivery of strategic planning and advisory outcomes. Our Strategy and Planning capability ensures Digital IT operates with a clear, coherent, and forward‑looking direction, aligning strategy, investment, and delivery as a single system. It translates organisational priorities, government direction, and market signals into a joined‑up Technology Strategy and multi‑year roadmap, proactively shaping demand and setting the “why, what, and when” for technology investment. A defining role of this domain is acting as the strategic alignment gateway—ensuring initiatives are assessed for strategic fit, sequencing, interdependencies, and long‑term value before entering governance, improving decision quality and reducing delivery risk.

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• Proven ability to lead and influence through collaboration, building trusted relationships across technology, business, and external stakeholders, navigating competing priorities and diverse perspectives
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• Ability and experience delivering strategic outcomes without direct authority
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• Extensive senior experience (12+ years) in technology strategy, strategic planning, investment advisory, or technology leadership within large, complex organisations
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• Demonstrated track record of originating, owning, and driving enterprise technology strategy from inception to execution
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• Strong commercial, financial, and investment planning acumen, including multi-year technology investment planning, capital and operating expenditure modelling, business case development, benefits realisation, cost optimisation, and alignment of funding to strategic priorities
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• Proven ability to engage, influence, and facilitate alignment with executives, Boards, senior government stakeholders, and business leaders, building trust, shaping strategic and investment decisions, and creating shared ownership of organisational direction
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• Deep understanding of the New Zealand public sector environment
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• Relevant tertiary qualification in Business, Information Systems, Public Policy, Technology Strategy, or a related discipline is required
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We offer competitive salaries, five weeks' annual leave and a benefits package including a range of insurances, flexible working arrangements and career development.

These benefits are described in more detail https://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz/a-great-place-to-work/benefits

As a Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities employee, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and support you need. We want to ensure you are healthy and have work‑life balance. We also want to support and grow your personal and career development through on‑the‑job learning, training courses, secondments and study opportunities.

At Kāinga Ora, ours is the important responsibility of transforming New Zealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow New Zealanders to thrive.

What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on New Zealanders’ lives. With skills, planning and purposeful action, our people are creating the homes and neighbourhoods that will build the future of Aotearoa.

We are passionate about transforming New Zealand for the better. That includes being a trusted partner for Māori and iwi, protecting and enabling their rights, interests and aspirations under the guidance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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• Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
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• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
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• Whanake – Be Bold
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We value diversity and are committed to working with each other and our customers in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference brings to the organisation.

Applications close Tuesday 8th September at 11.55pm