Government Partnerships Lead

Do you know how government works, and want to use that knowledge to help more tamariki and rangatahi thrive? We're looking for a Government Partnerships Lead to join our small team for 2027.

Email Dayna@lifecourse.nz to apply

About the Aotearoa Lifecourse Fund

The Aotearoa Lifecourse Fund (ALF) finds, funds and scales kaupapa with high potential to improve long-term outcomes for the next generation. Izzy Horrocks and Jimmy McLauchlan founded ALF in 2024.

Lifecourse science and matauranga Māori shows that what happens in childhood lays the foundations for happy, healthy, successful lives as adults. Building these foundations early can break cycles of intergenerational disadvantage.

We have $7M of philanthropic funding to channel into high-potential kaupapa. From 2027 our portfolio will include five kaupapa. We work closely with each one to help them reach more children, young people and whānau across the country.

Why this role matters

Philanthropy can prove what works, but government is usually the only funder able to sustain effective programmes at national scale. Our approach is to back kaupapa with strong potential, build the evidence for their impact, and help them become ready for long-term government investment.

This role makes that connection. You'll build trusted relationships with decision makers across government and the political spectrum, share evidence on what improves lifecourse outcomes, and help our kaupapa find a path to government funding. You'll also help us find and assess the next kaupapa we fund and their potential to achieve large(r) scale government funding.


Who we are looking for

Essentials

  1. Aligned with ALF’s approach. You care deeply about improving the lives of children and young people. You share our focus on measuring impact on life outcomes, and on scaling the most effective programmes through long-term government funding.

  2. Build relationships of empathetic challenge.  You build trust quickly and are credible in professional and political settings. You have empathy - able to put yourself in the shoes of others, and understand their hopes, challenges, constraints and strengths. At ALF, we challenge our kaupapa, funders and decision makers with empathy to do better for the next generation.

  3. Experience central government, and experience in  improving outcomes for children and young people. You will have a solid understanding of how central government works. This includes the Budget process, how ministries operate and how funding decisions get made. You will also have had experience improving outcomes for children and young people - be that through policy, research, community organisations, philanthropy or elsewhere.

  4. Thrive in fast-paced start-up environments. ALF is in its early days, with a high-energy team of three. You take initiative, love problem solving and are quick on your feet.  If you like well defined roles and systems this job is not for you.

  5. Committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with cultural competency. Many of the tamariki and whānau our kaupapa support are Māori, so you'll need an understanding of te ao Māori and tikanga, and a comfort in who you are and where you come from.

Nice-to-haves

  • Existing relationships with government decision makers

  • Experience in philanthropy or due diligence

  • Experience in strategy consulting

  • Experience with lifecourse research, evidence, IDI or programme evaluation

  • Proficiency in te reo Māori

  • Experience in a start-up or early-stage organisation

Who we’re looking for

What you'll do

Your time will roughly split across three areas.

1. Building relationships across government

  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with government decision makers, including MPs across parties, ministerial advisors and senior leaders in relevant agencies such as health, education, social development and Oranga Tamariki.

  • Listening, information gathering and asking great questions to identify priorities, opportunities, constraints and incentives of various government decision makers

  • Share evidence and insight on what improves lifecourse outcomes for children and young people, and be a useful source of advice when decision makers want input.

  • Identify government funding opportunities and policy developments relevant to ALF and our kaupapa.

  • Raise awareness of ALF's approach and the kaupapa we support.

  • Work alongside Jimmy, who leads ALF's existing government relationships.

2. Supporting our kaupapa with their path to government funding 

  • Help our five portfolio kaupapa develop clear plans for who could fund their work at scale, especially government.

  • Introduce kaupapa leaders to relevant decision makers, and help them prepare for those conversations.

3. Finding and assessing new kaupapa that have potential for long-term govt investment

  • Build our pipeline: we are always on the look out for promising kaupapa that improve lifecourse outcomes, where there is potential for long-term government investment.

  • As we identify potential kaupapa, you will be part of initial whanaungatanga kōrero, and background research. 

  • You will work closely with Izzy and Jimmy on due diligence, including assessing the options for potential government funding.

  • Help draft investment recommendations for the ALF board.

What success looks like by November 2027

  • ALF has strong relationships with key government decision makers for the new term, including MPs, ministerial advisors and senior agency leaders, and is a trusted source of advice on lifecourse outcomes.

  • All five portfolio kaupapa have clearer plans for government funding at scale, and new relationships with relevant decision makers.

  • Pipeline of high-potential kaupapa with potential to scale to government

If the year goes well, there may be an opportunity to continue with ALF beyond 2027.

How to apply

Applications close Sunday Nov 29th 2026. Please email dayna@lifecourse.nz with:

  1. Your CV.

  2. Short answers (up to 200 words each) to the two questions below. If you prefer, you can answer them in a voice note or short video of up to 5 minutes instead.

  • Tell us about a relationship you built with a decision maker that led to a real change. How did you build trust, and what happened?

  • What draws you to improving outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi, and what has your own experience taught you about the role of government?

If you'd like a kōrero before applying, please email Dayna.

To apply, you need to be based in Aotearoa New Zealand and have the right to work here.

Our process

We want to get to know you as a person and see how you work, so most of our process is conversation and practical work rather than paperwork.

  1. Kōrero (20–30 minutes, online): an informal conversation with Dayna, held on a rolling basis as applications come in.

  2. Week of Dec 7th: Case study and panel interview (90 minutes, online)

    1. Case study: we'll send you a case study on a hypothetical kaupapa a few days beforehand, with some questions to prepare. 

    2. Panel interview: a conversation with Izzy, Jimmy and Dayna about your experience.

  3. Week of Dec 14th: References including someone you've supported or worked alongside, as well as a manager.

We aim to make an offer before Christmas, with a start date of 1st Feb 2027.