General Manager - Operations Delivery and Enablement

• leadership position reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Executive
• enable and support frontline practice
• Fixed term or secondment 12 months
• Auckland based preferred but will consider Wellington and Christchurch

We are seeking an experienced and values‑driven senior leader to step into the role of General Manager – Operations Delivery & Enablement.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

This role provides strategic and operational leadership across nationally delivered services that enable and support frontline practice, this includes our National Support Services, Adoptions and International Casework, and the National Contact Centre. You will lead complex, high‑volume operational environments that operate 24/7, ensuring services are responsive, reliable and centred on the needs of tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

As a member of the senior leadership team, you will shape organisational performance, drive system improvement, and model the values and behaviours of Oranga Tamariki while leading significant change in a highly visible public service context.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for national operations delivery and enablement functions, aligning delivery with organisational priorities and long‑term outcomes.
• Lead a large and complex workforce, with responsibility for senior leaders and oversight of approximately 250 indirect reports across multiple functions and locations.
• Ensure the effective delivery of 24/7 operational services, including workforce planning, performance oversight, service quality and risk management.
• Oversee the delivery of significant people, process and technology change at the National Contact Centre.
• Lead nationally significant services such as overseas adoptions and serious incident oversight, ensuring compliance, quality and public trust.
• Contribute to internal and external governance of key strategic projects, including multi-agency action plans for international issues relating to child safety
• Translate strategy into multi‑year operational plans, ensuring clarity, accountability and collective delivery across the organisation.
• Build strong partnerships across Oranga Tamariki, the wider public sector, iwi and Māori partners, NGOs and community stakeholders.
• Contribute to the wider leadership of Tamariki and Whānau Services, including stewardship or input to key strategic issues.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

You are an inclusive, credible and delivery‑focused leader of leaders with experience operating at a senior level in complex environments. You bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale operational functions, ideally within the public sector or another highly regulated environment.
• Proven experience overseeing 24/7 operations, with accountability for service continuity, performance and risk.
• Experience leading through layers of management, with responsibility for large, dispersed teams and circa 250 indirect reports.
• A strong track record of leading organisational change, improving service delivery and embedding a performance and learning culture.
• Confidence operating within the machinery of government, including working with Ministers, central agencies and senior stakeholders.
• Highly developed relationship‑building skills and the ability to lead collaboratively across systems and sectors.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offer a step-based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. A strong cover letter should complement your CV by telling a compelling story about why you're the right fit for the role, why you want the role, why Oranga Tamariki and to and what you bring.

If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address.

If you have any questions about role, please contact

Hurry as applications for this role close at midnight on Thursday 28th May 2026

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.