Principal Advisor – Property Assurance

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Government Property Group (GPG) is building a new assurance function and are seeking an experienced Principal Advisor - Property Assurance who can support the establishment and operationalisation of the GPG Assurance Function.

The role of the GPG Assurance Team is to provide independent and objective assurance designed to assist GPG accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of property projects, governance processes, risk management and internal controls.

Reporting to the Manager - Property Assurance, the Principal Advisor - Property Assurance is primarily responsible for:

• Leading the design, development and implementation of GPG’s assurance function for use across multiple agency property projects, ensuring alignment with exceptional governance practice, and that appropriate systems are in place to monitor and evaluate project performance and risk.
• Delivering high quality technical advice and support across a range of assurance workstreams including risk management, property assurance, performance reporting, and compliance with property standards and guidelines.
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders (including senior public servants, external consultants, property developers, property owners) to provide confidence that government property projects follow accepted project methodologies with appropriate governance, oversight and change management protocols, thereby minimising the opportunity for scope creep and cost escalation.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to the Property Management Teams of the government office accommodation portfolio mandated agencies.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Extensive experience in providing assurance services in either the public and/or private sectors.
• Excellent relationship management skills – able to establish, build, maintain and own effective working relationships with senior leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Strong technical background in developing and implementing assurance frameworks and processes with a focus on working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that frameworks are fit for purpose.
• Highly developed leadership and organisational skills - able to operate autonomously while gaining the co-operation of others.
• Strong commitment to attaining goals – innovative, target driven, seeks solutions to problems before being asked, and takes action that goes beyond solving the immediate problem.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills – able to communicate complex issues clearly and concisely, adapt style to suit the needs of the audience and influence others to accept ideas/strategies. 
• A team player, willing to contribute as necessary to deliver assurance outcomes of a high standard and to drive the increasing maturity of GPG’s delivery functions.
• Relevant Tertiary qualification (preferably in commerce, property related services, building services, project management), Professional Certifications (Chartered Accountants and Certified Internal Auditors) and/or extensive comparable experience preferable.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the machinery of Government.
• High level of political nous and awareness.
• The legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

The responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Government Property Group responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves. This includes performing any other reasonable duties as required.

Takohanga Tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Property Assurance (Management and Delivery)

• Provide high quality technical advice and counsel on government property assurance, portfolio management, performance reporting and risk across mandated agencies and government workplaces.
• Deliver the annual GPG assurance programme and ensure the quality of outputs by reviewing assurance reports and supporting documentation.
• Prepare and present assurance reports to stakeholders and governance bodies (this may include governance reports, benchmarking reports, assurance dashboards, performance reports, project health check reports, and maturity assessments).
• Lead the identification and tracking of assurance opportunities and improvement recommendations. These must be practical, realisable and add value across the portfolio and system.
• Lead risk management activities to support internal and external stakeholders. This includes ensuring that risks are properly considered, having effective controls and treatments in place to manage the risk, and improving the overall risk environment.
• Engage and co-ordinate with external assurance providers and specialist consultants when required.
• Facilitate assurance workshops to develop stakeholder awareness of assurance related topics and to roll out improvement initiatives and solutions.

Strategic Leadership and Management

• Lead the design and implementation of GPG’s assurance strategy, systems, frameworks and structures.
• Provide intellectual thought leadership by bringing new ideas and knowledge to discussions and leads strategic conversations.
• Provide Property Governance Groups with high quality advice and counsel on government property assurance, project/portfolio management, improvement initiatives, performance reporting and risks across mandated agencies and government workplaces. 

Communication, Relationship Management and Stakeholder Engagement

• Champion GPG Property Assurance by delivering high quality and value added advice, services and outcomes to key stakeholders (including the Minister of State Services, Chief Executive of MBIE, Assurance Advisory Board, GPG General Manager, relevant property governance committees and agency representatives).
• Lead the development of effective relationship management measures to build and protect GPG’s brand reputation and where necessary ensure any conflict between parties is resolved, with a strong focus on contractual responsibilities, formal accountability and governance relationships.
• Represent GPG and MBIE at senior levels across government, both at an agency and Ministerial level where required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with other Public Service assurance managers and staff in order to transfer knowledge and learning to the wider organisation.

People Leadership

• Actively support the Property Assurance team and individuals within the team to deliver their work and responsibilities, setting objectives, targets and tasks that ensure the delivery of good practice property assurance outcomes.
• Coach, mentor and support the development of junior team members.
• Lead and influence the assurance team to deliver on the strategic objectives and priorities of GPG and to influence government agencies to adopt best property practices.
• Exemplary management and leadership behaviours are modelled, in accordance with MBIE, State Sector and GPG principles, ethics, integrity, accountability and values.

Wellbeing, Health and Safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
• Ensures own and others safety at all times.
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Principal Advisor, Property Assurance position reports into the Property Assurance Manager within the Government Property Group (GPG) branch. The branch sits within the Building Resources and Markets (BRM) group.

More information about MBIE’s structure

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Ngā matatau – Our competencies

Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.

Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.

Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.

Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.

Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.

Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission