Unit Manager, Enterprise Portfolio Management Office

Unit Manager, Enterprise Portfolio Management Office

• Lead the governance and delivery of MFAT’s multi-year investment portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and enterprise constraints.
• Provide strategic leadership of the EPMO, integrating functions and driving a cohesive, high-performing portfolio management system.
• Oversee enterprise-wide planning, prioritisation, and sequencing of programmes and projects, optimising outcomes, resources, and delivery risk.
• Work as part of the leadership team to shape how MFAT plans and delivers investment, ensuring alignment across functions and maximising organisational impact.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

The Unit Manager role leads the key supporting and enabling function for the delivery and governance of our multi-year transformation programme and leads a high performing team in support of this. You are a key business and people leader within MFAT. You will work closely with your colleagues from across the organisation to form a broader leadership team, shaping and driving organisational performance.

• Provide strategic leadership to the EPMO ensuring a cohesive plan and alignment between each of its functions.
• Lead the planning, prioritisation and delivery of programmes and projects within MFAT.
• Develop enterprise-wide change management insights and advice to better manage change delivery.
• Support and nurture project delivery talent to deliver programmes and projects incl. high performance and cultural competency.
• Lift maturity of project, programme and portfolio delivery governance within MFAT.

For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here.  

The appointing range for this role is $148,123 - $174,261 total remuneration including 3.5% employer contribution to Kiwisaver. Appointment within this range will depend on your level of experience.

Who are we looking for? - Mā‎ wai te mahi nei?

We’d like to hear from you if you are an experienced leader with the following skills and experience:

• Experience in leading an EPMO or specialist function in another public sector organisation.
• Strong understanding of Treasury investment planning and management requirements (including business case development, investment governance, and assurance processes), with practical experience applying these within a government agency.
• Knowledge of portfolio, programme and project management tools and methodologies.
• Has managed and built effective relationships, maintaining effective stakeholder relationships over time. 
• Highly developed ability to sequence large work programmes with multiple dependencies and arrange priorities with a view to maximising resource efficiency and achievability.
• Understanding of how to develop, promote and support a centre of excellence.
• Understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial.   

Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission.  Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here.

MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging.  We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous.  By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values.  We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world. 

To Apply/Interested? - Me pēhea te tuku tono

Apply today with your CV and cover letter.

For a confidential discussion please contact Louise James.  

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen, or Permanent Resident. 

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Confidential security clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at 11:59pm on Monday, 1 June 2026.

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role.  This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a specialist role based in central Wellington, NZ.  

While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process.

If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.