Work for us

This is an exciting time to join the Office of the Auditor-General. We're here to make a difference, and we have opportunities for you to further your career in an organisation uniquely placed to influence improvements throughout the public sector.

Senior Advisor, Strategy and Performance

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Advisor to join our Strategy and Performance team on a permanent basis.

As Senior Advisor, you’ll bring a strong understanding of the concepts and principles of strategic planning, performance reporting, governance, and accountability. You know what ‘good’ looks like, and how this can be translated into practice.

Reporting to the Manager, Strategy and Performance, you’ll be providing high-quality analysis, insights, and advice to support the strategic direction of the Auditor-General. Although we’re looking for a strong all-rounder, the role’s particular focus will be on business planning and performance reporting (including our annual report). Alongside this, you’ll be supporting wider team initiatives to implement our strategy, strengthen the Office’s governance, and develop the Auditor-General’s annual plan.

To be successful in this role, you’ll have:

  • at least three to four years’ experience working in a similar role in a public organisation;
  • experience working with performance indicators and measures and distilling insights for senior leaders;
  • the ability to develop and implement business planning approaches across an organisation;
  • a sound understanding of the system of government and public management in New Zealand;
  • an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori;
  • excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills;
  • highly effective verbal and written communication skills and confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders and leaders;
  • strong analytical skills and the ability to provide high-quality advice;
  • a pragmatic, reflective, and forward-thinking attitude; and
  • the ability to work as part of a small team, and with subject-matter experts across the organisation.

We have a diverse and inclusive team that helps us to understand the issues facing the public sector and how these affect the lives of New Zealanders. We strongly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so that we can assist you through the recruitment process. 

For more information, please contact [email protected].

To find out more about us, visit our website.

You must apply online through jobs.govt.nz (you'll find the application form and position description there, too). 

Applications close Sunday 12 January 2025.

Senior Procurement Specialist – 18 months Fixed-term, part time (20 hours)

We’re looking for an experienced procurement expert who can lead our procurement process with strategic insight and operational excellence.  This a sole-charge position and part of a close-knit PMO team, reporting to the Programme Director. A preference is for a candidate who could be flexible about the days and hours.  This role may suit an experienced practitioner looking for a part time role.

This role requires a deep understanding of procurement strategies, methodologies, and tools, and involves managing the entire procurement lifecycle. You’ll support both business-as-usual and project work, with a strong focus on sourcing and management phases. You will handle diverse responsibilities, including ICT projects, professional services, goods, facilities, HR, marketing, and financial services.

You’ll be responsible for:

  • Lead the procurement process, including planning, sourcing, and management.
  • Implement strategies, methodologies, systems, and tools across the procurement lifecycle.
  • Focus on delivery, particularly in sourcing and management phases.
  • Support both business-as-usual and project work.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

  • A minimum of 10 years’ procurement experience, planning and managing a range of end-to-end sourcing processes.
  • Sound knowledge of Government Procurement Policy and Rules.
  • A strong understanding of procurement practices, ideally within a complex public sector environment.
  • Experience in managing contracts, including supplier performance management, using formal structured contract management processes and practices.

You must be able to gain and maintain a Confidential national security clearance. Ordinarily, this means that you must be a New Zealand citizen, be a permanent resident, or hold a current residency class visa and intend to become a citizen when eligible. You must have a five-year checkable background in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Canada, or Australia. Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance: www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool. (Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process.)

We’re also open to this opportunity being fixed term or secondment.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

To find out more about us, visit our website:  oag.parliament.nz 

You must apply online through jobs.govt.nz (you'll find the application form and position description there, too). 

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 22 January 2025.

Senior Performance Auditor

A job you never knew existed

Jobs with unmatched variety and intellectual stimulation are rare. Here’s your chance to join a respected and influential organisation focused on improving the performance of, and the public’s trust in, the public sector. If you’re passionate about making a difference alongside talented and committed colleagues, performance auditing at the Office of the Auditor-General could be a new career path for you.

Performance audits are not financial in nature – instead, they report on issues that are important to New Zealanders. Currently we are looking at a range of issues including flood protection, cyber security, and Treaty of Waitangi claims settlements. You can read more about our work programme in our annual plan.

We currently have a vacancy for a Senior Performance Auditor. In this role, you’ll be assisting others in the team to produce performance audits on behalf of the Controller and Auditor-General. From day to day, you could be carrying out fieldwork in different parts of the country, analysing large amounts of information, or interviewing people from a wide range of organisations, from frontline public servants to politicians. It’s a challenging and varied role that gives you a unique view of the public sector. 

If this sounds like the job for you, we’d love to hear from you, especially if you have a good understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi and the machinery of government and have experience in supporting:

  • leading large research or evaluation projects in the public sector;
  • leading the development of public policy; or
  • contributing to significant government reviews or inquiries.

Please briefly describe in your cover letter:

  • how you’ve applied your analytical and critical thinking skills;
  • significant reports that you’ve written or contributed to; and
  • significant pieces of work that you’ve led, managed, and delivered.

This role is ideally suited to someone with more than five years’ relevant experience.

The Office is committed to a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so that we can assist you through the recruitment process. 

You can also hear directly from our Performance Auditors about what they do and the work they’re involved in.

We offer our staff:

  • Learning and development opportunities.
  • Flexible working.
  • Health and well-being benefits.
  • A unique operating environment with Parliament.

For more information about this role, please contact [email protected].

You must apply online through jobs.govt.nz (you'll find the application form and position descriptions there, too).

Applications close Sunday 12 January 2025

Notes for applicants

  1. We usually ask candidates to apply through the jobs.govt.nz website. We'll use the information you provide through that site to help us consider your suitability for the position you've applied for. (If your application is successful, we'll put this information on your personnel file. You can ask to see the information in that file, and to seek any correction you think necessary to ensure accuracy.)
  2. If the advertised position doesn't include a link to the jobs.govt.nz website, please email your curriculum vitae and a covering letter to the Advisor, Talent and Recruitment.
  3. Many positions in Audit New Zealand and the Office of the Auditor-General require you to have a satisfactory security clearance. Therefore, any offer of employment might be conditional on a satisfactory security clearance.
  4. If we proceed with your application, we'll ask for the details we need for your security clearance and details of any criminal convictions.
  5. Please note that if you've given incorrect or misleading information, or have left out any important information or fail to obtain a security clearance, you may be disqualified from appointment. If you've already been appointed, your employment may be immediately terminated.
  6. If your application is successful, we'll need to see:
    • certificates of your educational qualifications;
    • if applicable, evidence of your New Zealand Citizenship, residency, or work permit.
  7. All employees of the Controller and Auditor-General must be independent of the organisations we audit. Accordingly, as an employee you will be required to complete an independence declaration. This declaration includes the disclosure of a financial interest of you (or a family member) in an audited organisation, or a personal relationship with a member of that organisation’s executive or staff.
  8. If your disclosure reveals an existing or potential problem you won't be assigned to any project where your independence as an employee could be compromised, or where a conflict of interest situation might arise. At the extreme end of the spectrum, you might be asked to divest yourself of any investments in an organisation under audit.

What we stand for: People matter | Our independence is critical | We act with integrity and courage | We’re here to make a difference

Page updated: 16 December 2024