Senior Business Advisor

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Senior Business Advisor contributes to the operational success of their group and works across the group to strengthen the overall capability of business groups within MBIE, and help ensure the quality and consistency of advice, services and practices across these business groups.

The Senior Business Advisor will lead and contribute to the preparation of planning and reporting documents (Annual Report, Estimates, and Select Committee processes), preparation of business and people plans and be a key contact between the group and others within MBIE. 

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• A strong understanding of the machinery of government processes that underpin the operations of the public sector, such as Cabinet and parliamentary processes, accountability, and the performance, reporting and financial management processes and requirements.
• Significant work experience in the public sector in a business management, strategic, planning, reporting (internal and external), and/or governance role.
• Proven experience of leading, managing and coordinating input to accountability documents and processes associated with those documents.
• Good knowledge and understanding of how developments within government, state sector and MBIE itself impact on the objectives and design of strategy and planning processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with the ability to influence.
• A strong team player with ability to coach other staff.
• Strong customer focus with a commitment to delivering a quality product.
• Ability to quickly identify ways of thinking about problems or issues and possible pathways forward.
• Demonstrated experience with continuous business improvement and a desire to build this culture.
• Proven ability to work with people at all levels internally and externally, including excellent relationship building skills.
• A flexible, proactive and adaptable approach with the ability to respond to changing needs quickly and easily.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification or extensive and comparable relevant experience.
• To be considered for this position you must have a 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.  The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.

Critical areas of success

• Works within the Office of the Deputy Secretary, BRM and with BRM Branches to ensure successful and on time delivery of the public sector accountability framework. This includes Annual Estimates of Appropriations, Select Committee Annual Review and Estimates of Appropriations hearings, Annual Report, ministerial priority letters, budget bids, and other accountability and reporting processes as needed.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of MBIE purpose and priorities and BRM ministerial portfolios and priorities and applies this knowledge to tasks.
• Works within the Office of the Deputy Secretary and BRM Branches to ensure the group’s operational obligations are fulfilled and reflective of the group vision, goals and priorities through tracking and communicating, training, and raising issues and risks. This includes Business Planning, Risk Management, Business Continuity.
• Provides well considered, credible analysis and advice which informs and supports the BRM Group Leadership Team and enables decision making.
• Produces regular reports to the CE and BRM Leadership Team, which include performance measures and targets, commentary on key areas of focus, progress on work programmes, and how risks and issues are managed.
• Continuously and independently monitors the environment, anticipates priorities and issues, and proactively liaises with colleagues to take action.
• High quality accurate work is delivered within agreed timelines.
• The input of the Senior Business Advisor is valued and sought out to assist with BRM and MBIE work.

Organisational Development

• Work in partnership with colleagues within the group and across MBIE to achieve continuous business improvements.
• Well considered planning, analysis, and reporting on corporate functions is provided to the BRM Leadership Team and Head of Office of the Deputy Secretary.
• BRM organisational development activity is supported to be delivered in line with MBIE systems and policies, including for example finance, communications, human resources, information technology, risk management and assurance, information management, business continuity, security and privacy.
• Innovative ideas are actively raised and tested to improve efficiencies, lift performance, and ensure continuous improvements.
• Participation in and leadership of ongoing BRM organisational development initiatives, including staff engagement, building capability, and shaping culture, in collaboration with colleagues.

Relationship Management

• Actively manage constructive working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Well managed, collaborative working relationships with peers and colleagues across business groups and levels, including senior managers.
• Has honest and open communication and manages any conflict effectively.
• Proactively communicates knowledge and learning from the team to the wider organisation and vice versa.
• Communication style is proactive, responsive, positive, and professional.

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 Senior Business Advisor position reports to the Head of the Office of the Deputy Secretary, BRM.

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