Design Lead (Intervention Design & Planning)

About this role

About Us 

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. 

Hello, Kia ora, Noa'ia, Talofa lava, Mauri, Mālō e lelei, Tālofa, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālō ni, Kia orana , nǐ hǎo, Kamusta. 

WorkSafe New Zealand | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa is the primary workplace health and safety regulator. Our vision is that everyone who goes to mahi comes home healthy and safe. We live by our values:  

• Whakakotahi – we are united in a strong purpose 
• Kōrero mai – we engage meaningfully 
• Tiakina mai – we are entrusted with a duty of care  

About your team / Ko te tīma 

Regulatory Effectiveness is a new group established at WorkSafe to strengthen regulatory focus and improve how WorkSafe understands risk, designs interventions, and evaluates impact. 

The Intervention Design and Planning team sits within Regulatory Effectiveness and is responsible for designing interventions that address New Zealand's most significant workplace health and safety risks. Working alongside technical specialists, operational teams and stakeholders, the team develops practical, evidence-based approaches that influence behaviour and improve outcomes across the wider system. 

About the role / Ō te tūranga 

As a Design Lead, you'll play a key role in shaping how WorkSafe responds to priority health and safety challenges. You'll take intervention intents and translate them into clear, practical intervention design solutions that combine regulatory and non-regulatory approaches. This is an opportunity to apply your design expertise to meaningful work that helps create safer and healthier workplaces across Aotearoa. 

What You'll Do/ Ko tōu ake mahi  

• Design interventions that address priority health and safety challenges 
• Turn strategic priorities into practical, evidence-based solutions 
• Apply systems thinking to solve complex and ambiguous problems 
• Bring together diverse perspectives to shape effective intervention approaches 
• Refine and strengthen designs to maximise impact and implementation readiness 
• Develop clear, actionable design outputs that support successful delivery 

What You'll Bring / Ko ngā pukenga ōu  

• Demonstrated experience in intervention, systems or programme design in a complex regulatory, policy or public sector environment that address system-level challenges
• Ability to solve complex problems using structured design methods
• Experience turning strategic or intervention intent into practical delivery-ready solutions
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to bring people together around shared outcomes
• Confidence working with diverse stakeholders to shape effective and implementable solutions
• Sound judgement and the ability to balance evidence, risk, and operational realities
• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent professional experience 
• Backgrounds in intervention design, systems design, public policy, regulatory practice, social innovation, behaviour change or organisational design will be highly regarded.

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.  

Salary range / Awhe utu 

As part of our remuneration framework, the full salary range for this role is $112,754-$147,932. The expected appointment base salary is $112,754-$124,480. (KiwiSaver/SSRSS employer contributions are additional). From 1 April 2026 our KiwiSaver employer contribution increased to 3.5%.     

We offer a range of benefits including: 

• 5 weeks annual leave 
• 15 days sick leave 
• A Reward and Recognition Framework that celebrates the impact our kaimahi make – your mahi matters
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee-led networks to promote the goals and needs of our diverse communities (Rainbow, Pacific, Women's and Tū Rangatira Māori Network as well as Enabled Network and Multi – Ethnic Network.)

How to apply / Me pēhea te tono  

Click Apply, complete the application form, and upload your CV and cover letter. 

AI can be a helpful tool when preparing your application, but what matters most to us is you. Please ensure your CV, cover letter, and responses reflect your own skills, experiences, and perspective. We want to hear your real story - your passion, your personality, and what makes you unique. Don't let AI do all the talking - let it support you, not replace you. 
 
Learn more about working with us: Careers | WorkSafe.  

WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent. We believe different perspectives strengthen our mahi and help create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.  
 
If you encounter accessibility barriers in completing the application or require adjustments or support to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you, contact careers@worksafe.govt.nz for a confidential kōrero. 

This vacancy has been established as part of changes to WorkSafe's organisational structure after a review of WorkSafe's operating model identified opportunities to improve role clarity, ways of working and organisational effectiveness. As part of these changes, WorkSafe has established a number of new roles to ensure we are well placed to meet expectations now and in the future. 

Kaimahi whose roles were affected by the structure change will be given preference for all vacancies and will be considered in the first instance. 

Applications close: 11.59pm, Monday, 14 September 2026