Principal Regulatory Advisor – Petroleum, Minerals and Offshore Renewable Energy

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Principal Regulatory Advisor – Petroleum, Minerals and Offshore Renewable Energy supports the National Manager and other decision-makers by providing advanced regulatory expertise and leadership to permitting and decommissioning activities across all applicable regulatory regimes.

This role is responsible for:

• Partnering with the National Manager to drive high quality, robust, timely and consistent statutory decisions under all applicable regulatory regimes.
• Providing intellectual technical leadership, insight and analysis, identification of regulatory risk, and problem-solving capability to deliver timely, robust, balanced and consistent regulatory outcomes.
• Providing quality assurance, including peer review and, for the most complex regulatory matters, ownership of the permitting and decommissioning teams’ advice to decision-makers, including applying complex technical information against legislation and operational policy requirements.
• Lifting regulatory capability within the permitting and decommissioning functions, through engagement and education, developing best practice and coaching and mentoring technical staff at all levels in their day-to-day work, on regulatory issues and developments.
• Working in partnership with the Policy, Operational Policy and Regulatory Practice teams to inform through regulatory expertise the development, design and implementation of new permitting and decommissioning functions and changes to existing permitting and decommissioning functions.
• Leading external engagement on regulatory matters with other regulators, industry, interest groups and other stakeholders, including presenting at forums and conferences.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Proven experience working and delivering in a complex regulatory environment, interpreting and applying complex legislation, and actively inputting into, and leading on, technically/politically/legally complex subjects.
• Proven experience in continuous business improvement activities, proactively identifying and advising on changes to regulatory frameworks, regulatory practice and legislation to ensure effective regulation.
• Ability to integrate and balance statutory and specialist technical information and present them with simplicity, clarity and consistency that can be understood by a variety of audiences.
• Proven ability to use and apply advanced critical thinking, reasoning and judgement to identify risk and effective mitigation strategies and implement solutions.
• Ability to see the ‘big picture’ and adopt a strategic approach to work.
• Ability to perform and deliver quality outcomes to a high standard in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Adept at applying active listening skills with the ability to question and ensure clarity of the topic.
• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving ability to analyse complex information to inform robust decision-making.
• Ability to work flexibly and with minimal direction and guidance on what is required and displays confidence working on new, difficult or unusual assignments.
• Ability to think through ambiguous and conflicting requirements and solve problems pragmatically, effectively and promptly.
• Experience in leading and prioritising multiple pieces of work concurrently, and actively and independently plans and manages workload.
• Proven leadership, coaching and mentoring skills with ability to lead discussions for successful outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills including business writing and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to provide high-quality regulatory advice to support senior managers and brief Ministers.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to positively influence internal and external stakeholders and quickly earn their respect, trust and confidence.
• Credit check required.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience as a senior regulator in a relevant regulatory function.
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant regulatory, legal or technical discipline.
• Extensive commercial regulation or operational experience.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs. This position requires flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.

Regulatory leadership in a fast-paced and complex operating environment

• Partnering with the National Manager to drive the strategic agenda and set the regulatory direction across all applicable regulatory regimes.
• Providing senior support to the permitting and decommissioning functions on regulatory matters, including coaching and mentoring technical staff at all levels.
• Displaying intellectual leadership and advanced problem-solving skills in interpreting and applying complex legislation and technical information, and in driving regulatory change and innovation.
• Using judgement effectively to identify and assess options against desired outcomes, identify their cost-effectiveness and impact, identify risk and effective mitigation strategies, deal comfortably with uncertainty and make innovative, practical and legally robust recommendations without the total picture.
• Representing the regulator and undertaking quality liaison on regulatory and operational matters with other regulators, industry, interest groups and other stakeholders, including at forums and conferences.
• Working with minimal direction and guidance on what is required and is confident working on new, difficult, ambiguous or unusual assignments.
• Upholding the standards of integrity and conduct expected of people working in the State Sector.

Effective regulatory management

• Supporting the National Manager and other decision-makers in driving good regulatory practice for the permitting and decommissioning functions across all applicable regulatory regimes.
• Undertaking robust peer reviews of permitting and decommissioning work, and leading discussions on regulatory issues and developments, sharing regulatory knowledge and know-how with technical staff.
• Supporting the delivery of recommendations on complex, sensitive or novel permit applications.
• Working collaboratively with managers on areas of regulatory risk and concern.
• Adhering to timeframes when delivering robust, concise, well-written recommendations for decision, and providing quality reviews, input, advice and information to a variety of audiences.
• Delivering, and influencing others to deliver, robust regulatory outcomes that balance the efficient application of legislation with commercial outcomes and public accountability.
• Actively identifying and monitoring regulatory developments and risk across the permitting and decommissioning functions.
• Leading the management of casework relating to the permitting and decommissioning functions, including engagement with other parties on judicial reviews, offices of Parliament investigations and other claims and challenges, providing robust advice and options to the National Manager.

Leading and prioritising regulatory improvement for efficiency and effectiveness

• Proactively identifying gaps and risks in thinking, outputs, systems and processes to create an efficient and effective regulatory environment.
• Working collaboratively with managers and technical staff to understand and implement regulatory improvements.
• Working closely with the Policy, Operational Policy, Regulatory Practice and Legal teams to drive legislative and operational changes to improve regulatory risk and efficiency and effectiveness of the regulator, including the development, design and implementation of new permitting and decommissioning functions.
• Supporting and implementing the quality management system.
• Contributing to the development of reporting and monitoring tools to gather insights.

Advanced relationship management in a regulatory environment

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including decision-makers, other regulatory agencies, applicants and permit holders, industry and interest groups.
• Leveraging knowledge and experience of regulatory matters, using insights and analysis, for robust discussions on complex issues with a variety of audiences.

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.

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

The Principal Regulatory Advisor – Petroleum, Minerals and Offshore Renewable Energy role reports into the National Manager, Petroleum, Minerals and Offshore Renewable Energy within the Resource Markets 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