Principal Planning Analyst - Radio Spectrum

Tēnei tūranga – About the role 

The Principal Planning Analyst sits within the Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning team. This team is responsible for providing policy advice to the government on the allocation, management and regulation of the radio frequency spectrum. The team works to ensure that New Zealand users can choose and use the best wireless technologies for their needs. The team makes radio spectrum available in a way that is in line with New Zealand’s national interest, including balancing economic and social benefit, and that aims to be technically optimal.

The Principal Planning Analyst supports the Manager of Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning by providing high quality spectrum engineering advice, providing intellectual leadership for the planning members of the team, and leading the analysis and resolution of complex, difficult and/or wide-ranging issues. 

The Principal Planning Analysist works to enhance the quality of radio spectrum planning advice through the application of high-level radio spectrum engineering experience and analytical skills, applying international best practice, assisting the manager with driving the strategic direction of the spectrum planning work, and developing the capability of the planning staff.  

The Principal Planning Analyst may lead New Zealand’s engagements with other countries on radio spectrum matters and consult with New Zealand industry to develop the government’s position on these matters.

From time to time the Principal Planning Analyst may be required to travel and to work or attend virtual meetings outside standard hours to represent New Zealand at international engagements. 

The position is also responsible for providing technical advice to other MBIE teams including Radio Spectrum Management Licensing and Investigations, and the Space Agency. 

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Legal right to live and work in New Zealand
• Advanced technical knowledge in the area of radio spectrum engineering (Minimum of Bachelor of Engineering in electrical engineering , equivalent, or significant industry experience required), including:
  • Radio wave propagation modelling
  • Interference/co-existence analysis
  • Understanding of spectrum planning frameworks 
  • Strong analytical skills 
• Knowledge and experience in interference modelling software tools and geographical information systems such as MATLAB, HTZ communications, ARC-GIS and other tools, as required.
• Experience with radio technologies and standards
• Experience in providing high-quality radio spectrum engineering expertise within a regulatory environment/team or telecommunications/broadcasting company.
• Experience of spectrum planning work, either in the public or private sector. 
• Strong teamwork skills, being able to work with others to deliver effective, timely solutions
• Ability to assist Manager in leading, supporting and coaching the team as required. 
• Experience in engaging with stakeholders across all levels and within the industry. 
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to gain and maintain a national security clearance as required.

Ability to adapt 

• Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs.  The Principal Planning Analyst will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Provides expert radio spectrum engineering analysis and intellectual leadership to support decision making 

• Understands a range of wireless technologies and the radio spectrum needs of those technologies.
• Plans for new technologies and identifies opportunities for more efficient use of radio spectrum
• Can perform sharing and compatibility analysis between different radio systems, identify mitigations and define technical conditions for coexistence between systems. This will include the identification of appropriate assumptions and applying this analysis to the New Zealand situation.
• Reviews and understands international sharing and compatibility studies and can apply these to the New Zealand situation.
• Can use a range of software modelling tools to support the work of the role. 
• Applies international spectrum management best practice to the work of Radio Spectrum Management. 
• Effectively chairs meetings of leading technical representatives from industry. 
• Effectively represents New Zealand at international meetings and negotiations, where required. 
• Finds solutions where matters are complex, sensitive, or require negotiation.
• Provides key input to the formation of the overall policy objectives and uses initiative to resolve conflicts, manage risks and coordinate work with others.
• Leads multiple pieces of work concurrently, and actively and independently plans and manages work load.

Work Management 

• Uses project planning and management techniques to effectively carry out the agreed work, within the resources available and provides timely reports on progress. 
• Works will little guidance - identifies the overall objectives and issues, seeks guidance where required and uses initiative to resolve conflicts, manage risks and coordinate work with others.
• Leads multiple pieces of work concurrently and actively and independently plans and manages workload. 
• Takes a leadership role in cross-MBIE and cross-government projects.
• Chairs and contributes to meetings, including where matters are complex or sensitive, require negotiation or solutions.

People leadership 

• Assists Manager Radio Spectrum Planning and Policy with recruitment, management and development of staff.
• Supports Manager Radio Spectrum Planning and Policy to establish clear accountabilities, expectations and performance standards for the team. 
• Leads project teams and understands and utilises the capability of team members to deliver high quality project outputs. 
• Provides team leadership that engages and motivates others to succeed and develop, and proactively share knowledge and ideas.
• Provides intellectual leadership by bringing new ideas and knowledge to discussions and leads strategic conversations. 
• Coaches, mentors and develops staff to meet the needs of MBIE now and in the future. 
• Understands and utilises the capability of team members to support delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Contributes to the performance of the team through providing peer review and quality control including projects and tasks that the Principal Planning Analyst is not leading.

Relationship Management 

• Works constructively and collaboratively with team members, including: 
  • Assisting policy staff to understand and plan for the role of technical inputs in radio spectrum policy advice 
  • Communicating technical information with clarity and assisting to integrate technical information into policy advice 
  • Understanding and incorporating policy perspectives into technical analysis and advice. 
• Builds enduring relationships with senior industry and government technical stakeholders. 
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in external interactions. 
• Builds and maintains effective relationships international organisations to promote New Zealand’s interests. 

Capability Development 

• Takes responsibility for own professional development, working with manager, to seek opportunities to learn.

Wellbeing, health & 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.

The Principal Planning Analyst position reports into the Manager Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning within the Communications, Infrastructure and Trade branch. The branch sits within the Building, Resources and Markets 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