Ngā mahi
Jobs

He ara pukenga, he ara tauwhiro, hei whakamana mātā waka 
The many pathways of knowledge, the many pathways of social work, upholding the dignity of all

Current vacancies:

Deputy Registrar Education

Perm/fulltime

Salary $146,000 – $155,000

…………………….

Ko wai tātou | Who are we?

The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) | Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is Aotearoa’s social worker regulator and the Government’s lead agency for social worker workforce planning. We protect the public by ensuring social workers are competent, safe to practise, and accountable – and we work alongside the profession to strengthen practice and support a sustainable workforce. We are a Crown Entity accountable to the Minister of Social Development and Employment, and we are committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown’s relationship with Māori, and developing our Māori capability.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Social work education is where the profession begins. The standards that govern how social workers are trained, what they must know, and how they are assessed for entry to practice – these are the foundations on which public safety rests. As Deputy Registrar – Education, you will be responsible for the integrity of that foundation.

Reporting to the Registrar, you will lead SWRB’s regulatory functions relating to education – overseeing the prescription, monitoring and review of social work qualifications and training pathways under the Social Workers Registration Act 2003. You will chair site visit hui with tertiary education organisations, provide expert advice and Board reporting, lead a high-performing education team, and work closely with educators, regulators, and sector stakeholders to uphold the credibility and transparency of the education framework.

This is substantive, expert work. It requires someone who is as comfortable in a complex legislative environment as they are facilitating a consensus-based panel hui or presenting findings to the Board.

Mōhou ake | About you

You are a senior leader who has built your credibility the hard way – through deep knowledge, sound judgement, and a track record of advice that holds up under scrutiny. You understand regulatory frameworks and know how to administer a statutory function with precision and care.

You bring demonstrated expertise in interpreting legislation, administering statutory functions, and providing high-quality advice that stands up to scrutiny in complex and politically sensitive environments.

You bring proven people leadership experience, exceptional written and verbal communication skills, and a strong track record of stakeholder engagement.

You bring a clear commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, cultural capability, and the ability to work effectively with Māori as tangata whenua, while leading with integrity, professionalism and sound judgement.

You will have:

  • Experience in the tertiary education sector at a senior level.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and experience of working in a regulatory framework e.g. social work, higher education, health or quality assurance.
  • Understand the principles and conventions of government and the constitutional, legal, and politically neutral framework in which one works in the state sector.
  • Demonstrated commitment and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori and as it relates to the social services sector.
  • Sound knowledge of professional education and regulatory legislation.
  • Proven experience in administering a statutory function and interpreting complex legislation.
  • Proven senior management experience, including staff management.
  • Proven track record of effective stakeholder management.
  • Highly developed communication skills, both oral and written, which enable the person to deal effectively with key relationships, both internal and external.
  • Knowledge of social work education and the social work sector is desirable. 

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you?

  • Work that matters – the decisions made in this role directly shape who enters the social work profession and the standards they must meet to get there.
  • A unique regulatory context – SWRB’s dual mandate as both occupational regulator and workforce planning lead gives this role a breadth and visibility few comparable positions can offer.
  • A permanent, full-time role with genuine leadership scope – you will lead a team, contribute to Board decision-making, and work at the intersection of regulation, education, and sector relationships.
  • A values-driven organisation that takes He Arapaki and Te Tiriti obligations seriously as part of how we work, not just what we say.
  • Hybrid working, a Wellington CBD location, and a collegial team environment.

For more information, please contact Rebecca.courtney@swrb.govt.nz. To apply please submit your CV and cover letter via the Seek website.

Applications close Tuesday 7 April 2026 5:00pm

Team Leader, Registration

Mō te tūnga | About the role 

Are you looking for mahi you can get your teeth stuck into in an organisation where nothing stands still from week to week? We are looking for a Team Leader, Registration to lead our dedicated Registration team, driven by a shared commitment to public safety and the professionalism of social workers. The mahi will be vital to supporting the day-to-day operation of the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) registration processes.

You will hit the ground running reporting to the Deputy Registrar, Registration, working within the Registration Team and wider Regulatory Team. This role focusses on leading and supporting the team while continuing to manage registration processes and deliver high‑quality regulatory outcomes. Key tasks include:

  • Lead and support the Registration team to deliver the day‑to‑day operation of registration and certification processes, ensuring policies and procedures are consistently followed.
  • Oversee and manage the team’s assessment of registration applications, applying critical thinking and a risk based lens to support sound, consistent decisions.
  • Provide guidance and oversight to the team during the annual Practising Certificate renewal process, ensuring work is timely, accurate, and customer focussed.
  • Act as a key escalation point for complex customer enquiries, supporting the team to manage inbound and outbound calls, emails, and correspondence effectively.
  • Monitor team performance and workflows, identifying opportunities to improve processes, data quality, and reporting.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders.

 Mōhou ake | About you  

  • You will be a confident and people focussed team leader who enjoys supporting others to do their best work.
  • You lead by example, communicate clearly, and create a positive team environment where people feel supported, motivated, and accountable.
  • You’re comfortable working at pace in a regulatory environment, balancing day-to-day operational work with people leadership.
  • You bring empathy and sound judgement to your interactions, particularly when working with complex information and sensitive situations.
  • You are keen to grow your leadership capability, open to learning, and able to work collaboratively across teams to achieve shared outcomes.
  • You value diversity and are committed to embedding Te Ao Māori, including te reo Māori, tikanga, kawa, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, into the way you do your mahi.

Ko wai tātou | Who are we? 

He ara pukenga, he ara tauwhiro, hei whakamana mātā waka 

The many pathways of knowledge, the many pathways of social work, upholding the dignity of all 

The SWRB / Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is a Crown Entity which is Aotearoa’s social worker regulator and Lead Agency for social worker workforce planning.  

It protects the safety of members of the public by ensuring social workers are competent and safe to practise and are accountable for the way in which they practise. It also enhances social workers’ professional practice and provides insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social worker workforce. 

As the SWRB, we recognise our Crown-Māori commitment as a Te Tiriti O Waitangi partner and are committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown’s relationship with Māori, and developing our Māori capability. 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience  

  • Experience leading, supervising, or supporting a team, or a strong developing capability in people leadership.
  • Ability to create a positive, open, and supportive team culture.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Empathy and a strong customer service focus, particularly when dealing with complex or sensitive matters.
  • Sound judgement and the ability to prioritise work, manage competing demands, and work at pace.
  • Ability to apply analytical thinking and a risk lens to decision‑making.
  • Proven discretion, tact and diplomacy in dealing with confidential and/or personal work-related information.
  • Strong relationship‑building skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
  • Strong general computer skills including the use of Microsoft Office products.
  • An understanding of, or willingness to build capability in, Te Ao Māori and cross‑cultural practice.
  • A tertiary qualification or equivalent relevant experience.

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you? 

Working for SWRB will provide you with the opportunity to be part of a small crown agent, occupational regulator and workforce Lead Agent to grow your experience and knowledge of working in government. You will be part of a small supportive organisation (50 staff) where learning and developing is encouraged. We also offer: 

  • Flexible work-life balance.
  • Professional growth and development opportunities.
  • Autonomy, authenticity and belonging. 
  • Wellbeing focussed environment.
  • People focussed organisational culture.

For more information, please contact Rebecca.courtney@swrb.govt.nz. To apply please submit your CV and cover letter via the Seek website.

Applications close Tuesday 7 April 2026 5:00pm