Various Commercial Specialist Opportunities

Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert :

A range of procurement and commercial roles available

Provide commercial leadership across complex service categories

Strategic procurement opportunities driving improved outcomes through procurement

Build capability and influence across DSS and the wider Ministry

This is your opportunity to work on a range of exciting and challenging procurement and commercial projects where we working to improve how supports are commissioned and funded.

We have a large work-programme with exciting and career defining opportunities!

The Disability Support Services (DSS) Group is responsible for commissioning, funding, and stewarding high-quality services that support disabled people, their families, and whanau.

We're building capacity across our teams to deliver both change and business-as-usual effectively.

We work closely with providers, stakeholders, and communities to ensure services are fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable.

With a strong focus on performance monitoring, data, and insights, we're committed to continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making.

It's an exciting time to join DSS as we strengthen our systems and expand our capabilities.

We're looking for passionate people to help us achieve our goals and make a meaningful impact.

About the role | Mo te tunga :

We have a range of commercial roles available :

Senior Commercial Specialist

Commercial Specialist

As Principal Commercial Specialist, you'll lead and manage our most complex commercial work, overseeing strategic procurements, supplier relationships, and process improvements across commissioning categories.

This role mentor's others to share best practice and experience across commissioning and wider DSS and provides strategic advice to leaders across the group.

As a Senior Commercial Specialist, you'll provide commercial expertise, advice, support and leadership across commissioning to manage high value, high risk commercial and procurement processes.

You'll lead and manage project teams from the development through to the delivery of sourcing strategies, procurement planning and sourcing through to contract delivery and on-going monitoring and management.

This involves negotiating outcomes and managing suppliers and critical suppliers.

As a Commercial Specialist, you'll provide commercial advice and support around commercial needs covering planning, sourcing and managing contracts.

This role manages and / or assists in the implementation of procurements and contracts across DSS.

Key responsibilities include :

Develop and deliver category and sourcing strategies aligned with DSS's strategic direction

Engage with underrepresented providers, especially Maori and Pacific communities, to reduce barriers to entry

Grow market capability and achieve economic outcomes through insights and engagement

Negotiate and review contracts to ensure alignment with organisational goals

Define requirements for new contracts and ensure strategic alignment

Build collaborative supplier relationships to drive value beyond pricing

Develop protocols for Ministry-wide supplier collaboration

Lead commercial capability building across DSS commissioning and funding teams

We value diversity and welcome applications from disabled people and those who have lived experience with whanau, or the disability community.

Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.

Proven experience in strategic sourcing and commercial procurement

Strong commercial leadership skills with the ability to work across diverse projects

Relationship management expertise in complex environments

Previous experience in the public sector and understanding of NZ government procurement rules and policy

Experience in driving commercial best practice across differing environments

Strong negotiation and influencing skills to achieve outcomes and create solutions

Sound analytical skills with the ability to draw insights from diverse sources

Proven ability to build partnerships and maintain professionalism

A copy of the position descriptions can be found here.

Principal Commercial Specialist : $142,874 - $177,798

Senior Commercial Specialist : $118,288 - $143,647

Commercial Specialist : $90,743 - $109,980

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 and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whanau and communities.

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.

How to apply | Me pehea te tuku tono :

To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.

As part of your application, please indicate which role you have a preference for.

Note : Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilitieslisted in the position description.

All applications must be made online.

If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at

Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work.

This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.

Joining MSD means being part of a whanau 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.

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

#J-

• Ljbffr