Senior Planning Analyst - Radio Spectrum

Tēnei tūranga – About the role 

The Senior Planning Analyst position is responsible for developing sound technical/engineering advice on the allocation and management of the radio spectrum resource in order to support a higher rate of sustainable economic development in New Zealand. 

This technical advice informs policy advice to the Minister or other decision makers, the specific rules and regulations that are set and operationalised, and inputs to international engagements. 

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

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
• Bachelor of Engineering in electrical engineering, or equivalent qualification or experience. 
• Proven skills/experience in radio spectrum planning activities including:
  • Radio wave propagation modelling
  • Interference/co-existence analysis
  • Understanding of spectrum planning frameworks 
  • Strong analytical skills. 
• Familiarity with radio technologies and standards.
• An understanding of the spectrum management environment, regulatory frameworks and planning practices.
• Strong teamwork skills, being able to work with others to deliver effective, timely solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.

Ability to adapt 

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

Advantageous skills  

• An understanding of New Zealand radio spectrum licensing and/or compliance practices.
• Knowledge of international spectrum management institutions and practices.
• Knowledge and experience in interference modelling software tools and geographical information systems such as MATLAB, HTZ communications and ARC-GIS.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Provide expert technical analysis and radio spectrum management knowledge to support decision making 

• Has substantial technical knowledge and expertise in portfolio/project area.
• Provides technically robust analysis of radio systems and spectrum planning problems. 
• Compares results from a model or system for thinking about an issue with intuitive experience, and recommends action based on this data. 
• Exercises sound judgement and intuition.
• Understands in detail the technical aspects of the Radiocommunications Act 1989 and regulations, particularly the engineering aspects of the Act and associated Regulations.
• Communicates issues, results and recommendations with clarity and logic in a way that is appropriate to the audience. 
• Provide input to the preparation of policy advice, consultations and the development and implementation of licensing rules. 

Work Management 

• Uses project planning and management techniques to effectively to carry out the agreed work, using initiative to resolve most conflicts, manage risks and coordinate work with others. 
• Works with some guidance on the overall project objectives, within the resources available and provides timely reports on progress. 
• 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. 
• Alerts Manager to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposes solutions.

People Leadership 

• Leads project teams and understands and utilises the capability of team members to deliver high quality project outputs. 
• Provides intellectual leadership by bringing new ideas and knowledge to discussions and leads strategic conversations. 
• Provides supervision, guidance, coaching and mentoring and on-the-job training to team members.
• Contributes to the performance of the team through providing peer review and quality control including projects and tasks that the Senior 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. 
• Develops and maintains relationships with stakeholders across MBIE’s Radio Spectrum Management functions and with relevant personnel in other government agencies. 
• Develops and maintains relationships, liaises with and influences national and international stakeholders. 

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.

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

The Senior Planning Analyst (radio spectrum) position reports to the Manager of the Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning team 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