Deputy Registrar - Registration

Overview

Candidate Manager @ JacksonStone & Partners | Contracting and Permanent

Are you a social work professional who wants to strengthen the profession from within?

The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) / Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is Aotearoa's social worker regulator and lead agency for social worker workforce planning. We protect public safety by ensuring social workers are competent, fit to practise, and accountable. We also strengthen professional practice and provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social work workforce. As a Crown Entity, it recognizes its Crown-Māori commitment as a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner and is committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown\'s relationship with Māori, and developing Māori capability.

The recruitment of this role is being managed by JacksonStone & Partners. Please contact Simon Boyes for further information.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE : Friday, 14 November 2025. APPLY OR VIEW THE POSITION DESCRIPTION : REFERENCE : BH-11450 FURTHER ENQUIRIES : Simon Boyes on

Responsibilities

This isn\'t a typical regulatory position. You\'ll lead registration functions and manage systems, but at its heart this role is about being deeply connected to the social work community. You\'ll be the person social workers turn to when they\'re navigating their registration journey—newly qualified practitioners taking their first professional steps, experienced practitioners renewing their annual practising certificates, and students preparing to enter the profession. You\'ll interpret complex legislation, maintain the register, monitor conditions of practice, and oversee regulatory education functions. You will balance regulatory rigour with a genuine understanding of what social workers face in practice.

You\'ll have days that involve supporting a newly qualified social worker through their first registration application, and others that involve working with an experienced practitioner on a complex exemption case, or ensuring conditions of practice are properly monitored. You\'ll ensure our processes are efficient and our systems work well, while remembering that behind every application is a person\'s career, wellbeing, and commitment to their communities.

You\'ll lead a team of 7-8 people (two direct reports and 5-6 indirect reports), and work closely with two other Deputy Registrars (Complaints and Education) as part of the senior management team supporting the Registrar and Chief Executive. Together, you\'ll ensure SWRB\'s core functions are delivered effectively and collaboratively.

What you\'ll need to succeed

Essential : Proven experience working in social work, social services, or health. You\'ll engage daily with social workers, students entering the profession, and practitioners in complex registration situations. Credibility, the ability to understand their world, and the capacity to balance empathy with regulatory standards are critical. This is a role where you need to have lived it or worked closely alongside it in health or social services contexts.

A genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori as it relates to social services. You\'ll understand how Te Tiriti shapes social work practice in Aotearoa and weave this understanding through your mahi.

Regulatory and statutory experience. You\'ll need proven experience administering statutory functions and interpreting complex legislation. A legal or regulatory background will serve you well here.

People leadership capability. Managing two direct reports and influencing across a wider team of 7-8 requires coaching, mentoring, and building a positive team culture while delivering excellent service under pressure.

Strong relationship and communication skills. You\'ll represent SWRB externally, engage with diverse stakeholders, write Board papers and reports, and have difficult conversations with professionalism. Written and oral communication should be outstanding.

The Reality of the Role

Some days will be straightforward—processing registrations, updating the register, reporting to the Board. Others will require judgement—working through complex exemption applications, interpreting ambiguous legislation, ensuring conditions of practice are monitored, or supporting practitioners through challenging registration processes. You\'ll need emotional intelligence, political sensitivity, and resilience because this work matters and the stakes are high.

SWRB is guided by four core values : Matatika (doing what\'s right and just), Manaaki (looking after the dignity of others), Mahitahi (working together as one), and Māia (being bold and resilient). These values guide decision-making and support for practitioners.

Why this role matters

This role sits at the heart of social work in Aotearoa. You\'ll shape how SWRB supports and regulates a profession that changes lives, ensure systems and processes work for those they serve, and protect public safety while strengthening professional practice. SWRB is a small team where you\'ll know everyone\'s name by week two and have real influence, genuine autonomy, and colleagues who care about getting this right.

If you are a social work professional ready to bring practice wisdom, regulatory capability, and leadership to this critical role, we would love to hear from you.

Seniority level : Mid-Senior level

Employment type : Full-time

Job function : Legal, Management, and Public Relations

Industries : Health and Human Services, Executive Offices, and Legislative Offices

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