About us | Mō mātou:

The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.

As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

About the role | Mō te tūnga:

Ministry of Social Development – Policy Graduate Programme 2027 

Are you a recent graduate, or graduating soon? Are you keen to make a difference for New Zealanders and help shape the future of Aotearoa New Zealand?  Would you like to launch your career with one of the largest public sector agencies in New Zealand?

You might be a great fit for the Ministry of Social Development’s 2027 Policy Graduate Programme.

At MSD, we value your unique perspective and potential. We bring together extraordinary people to be part of our whānau, a dynamic community of problem solvers who thrive on embracing differences and influencing initiatives that impact the lives of people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.  It's not just about where you're going; it's about what you need to get there. We provide you with the foundations for success, and the opportunity to fast-track to a permanent policy analyst role advising the Government of the day. This is a critical role – we have a responsibility to provide politically neutral social policy advice to support governments to make decisions which impact the lives of people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Don’t be concerned about your GPA or type of degree. We are interested in people who bring passion, drive and potential - who can bring diverse perspectives to the work we do.

For more information, check out our website: jobs.msd.govt.nz/MSD/go/Policy-Graduates-Programme/9582000/

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono:

To be eligible for a place on the programme, it is essential you have an undergraduate tertiary qualification, backed up by strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

We are looking for graduates from a range of disciplines. We encourage applications from recent graduates (within the last two to three years, with flexibility depending on the candidate).

You must also be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or resident, Australian citizen or permanent resident or have a valid work visa at the time of application allowing you to work in New Zealand for two years or more from February 2027.

If your application is progressed to the next stage, you will be invited to undertake a video recording answering questions (also known as a ‘one-way online interview’).

Shortlisted candidates will need to be available to attend an assessment day on Monday, 31 August 2026 in Wellington, so please keep this date in your diary free. You’ll also need to be able to commence the Graduate Programme in February 2027 which would be a full-time position based at National Office, Wellington.

Applications close on 28 June 2026; however, we encourage you to apply early as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

If you want to be part of a values-driven team, with a strong culture that you can help us continue to strengthen, please apply via the link provided below that takes you to the MSD job site.

All applications must be made online. If this is not possible, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz

If you have any further questions about the role and recruitment process that are not covered here, please email us at Policy_Graduates@msd.govt.nz

Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.

You will need to provide:

your CV
cover letter (1 page max, which includes answers to the below questions)
official or unofficial academic transcript (please attach a copy of your transcript at the end of your CV rather than uploading it as a separate document)
answers to the written assessment questions in the application form (more details about the written assessment below)

In your cover letter, please make sure you include answers to the following questions:

What has attracted you to work at the Ministry?
How do you think your experiences (from university, work, voluntary experience, and life generally!) make you a great fit for this role?

Tip: Use the job description to think about the skills and behaviours we are looking for.

Tip: Your cover letter should be no longer than one page.

Written assessment

In addition to uploading your CV, cover letter and academic transcript, please answer the written assessment questions in the application form.

There are two questions to answer:

Describe a time when you worked with someone whose way of thinking or doing things was different from your own. What did you learn about yourself through that experience, and how has it shaped the way you collaborate with others?
What is your experience with Te Ao Māori, and what might you like to learn more about it?

Please answer each question in up to 250 words. Within the word limit, try to answer as completely but succinctly as possible.

Tip: Please see the guidance for more information to help you with your application Grad Application Guidance and please take a moment to review our AI guidance to understand how AI can best support your application Candidate AI guidance.

Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:

Graduate Policy Analyst Position Description

Salary | Utu-ā-tau:

The starting salary is $64,543 based on current salary ranges. If Graduates are performing well, they can also expect a salary progression at the mid-point of the Programme.

Joining us | Ko te hono mai:

Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.

Ministry of Social Development jobs

Graduate Policy Analyst