Positions At State Services Commission Advertised

The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, said today that he would be advertising four senior positions in the State Services Commission, over the coming week, as part of the continuing programme of change at the SSC.

The positions that will be advertised, beginning tomorrow, are:

Three Deputy Commissioners - Branch manager, chief executives' branch

The Commissioner is also, on behalf of the Prime Minister, seeking expressions of interest for the office of Deputy State Services Commissioner. This is an appointment under section 12 of the State Sector Act 1988. The Governor-General appoints the Deputy State Services Commissioner on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Deputy State Services Commissioner

The current Deputy State Services Commissioner, Ross Tanner, will conclude his term in office on 30 September 2001. Mr Tanner was initially appointed Deputy State Services Commissioner in 1993. In line with Government policy on Public Service chief executive roles, the Deputy State Services Commissioner is limited to a maximum eight-year term in one office. Mr Tanner is not therefore seeking reappointment.

"Mr Tanner has been a capable and loyal deputy to me and to my predecessor, Don Hunn.

"He has provided leadership, within the Commission and within the Public Service, in several specialist areas, including information technology and senior management development."

Mr Tanner is considering other senior management appointments in New Zealand.

"I hope that his skills and experience will not be lost to the Public Service," Mr Wintringham said.

Deputy Commissioners

Mr Wintringham said the three Deputy Commissioners would lead newly-appointed deputy commissioner teams of five to six people per team.

"The first deputy commissioner team was appointed last year under Tony Hartevelt, formerly a partner with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Based on my assessment of this approach to our business, I have decided to appoint three further Deputy Commissioners and their teams forthwith.

"Existing staff in the Commission will be given first chance to apply for positions in the new teams."

Mr Wintringham said that these senior appointments, and associated structural change within the Commission, will give effect to the change in focus and direction for the State Services Commission signalled in his annual report last year.

"I said last year that these changes will give the Commission a stronger, more clearly identifiable leadership role in improving the capability and performance of the Public Service.

"I expect each of the Deputy Commissioners to work with a portfolio of Public Service chief executives to enhance the capability and performance of their departments. This means getting a better balance between achieving results, investing for the future and between innovation and risk management."

Branch Manager - Chief Executives' Branch

Mr Wintringham said the manager's role in the chief executives' branch, which supports the Commissioner in the appointment and performance reviews of Public Service chief executives, was being advertised as part of the changes.

"The position is an existing one. It has been filled on an acting basis since last year in anticipation of the changes now being put in place.

"I plan to make a permanent appointment to the branch at the same time as Deputy Commissioners are appointed."

Mr Wintringham said that these changes, although not large in structural terms, had the potential to make the greatest change to the effectiveness of the State Services Commission, and therefore the performance of the Public Service, since the State Sector Act came into effect in 1988.

ENDS

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