Manager – Consumer Advocacy Council

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Manager, Consumer Advocacy Council, Consumer Services leads the team responsible for providing quality, timely advice to the Consumer Advocacy Council (the Council). They provide management of the Secretariat functions, work with the Chair and members of the Consumer Advocacy Council, National Manager Consumer Services, other Managers, external stakeholders such as Ministers and their offices, senior industry figures, government agencies and NGOs.

The purpose of the Council is to be the trusted, credible, authoritative advocate for small electricity consumers, operating independently of the industry, regulators and government.

Guided by the strategy, policies and terms set by the Council, the Manager is responsible for:

• Providing accurate and timely advice to the Council to inform its decision making.
• Supporting the Council and its work.
• Leading the secretariat team (the team) work in accordance with Council priorities, providing policy advice, applying sound judgement including identifying risks and opportunities.
• Setting strategy for the team, driving activity and allocating resources.
• Building and enhancing the overall capability of the team to ensure quality advice.
• Maintaining a high-performing team through good recruitment and performance management, and by developing and maintaining a culture of learning and development, safety and wellbeing within the team.
• Effectively appointing and managing external contractors.
• Building and maintaining constructive working relationships, both internally and externally, and articulating and communicating the purpose and priorities of the Council.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Understands the strategic context, current policy agenda and priorities, and is able to apply foresight and judgement to shape the work programme and policy projects to anticipate needs and priorities of the Council.
• Has the intellectual capability, judgement and time-management skills to manage multiple complex projects concurrently.
• Is able to apply strong intellectual capability to analyse large, complex issues and readily grasp and synthesise the ideas, analysis and advice produced by others.
• Demonstrates mastery of public policy processes and has an in-depth understanding of the policy production process, including stakeholder consultation processes.
• Has the ability to establish positive connections with people and organisations that the Council works with and maintains professional relationships over time even in the face of differences.
• Is sensitive to how people and organisations function, navigates and deals comfortably with organisation and industry politics and anticipates land mines and plans approaches accordingly.
• Has extensive project management experience, including a proven ability to deliver projects successfully, and experience successfully managing external contractors.
• Excellent communication and coaching skills and a desire to build and enhance a team environment, using excellent coaching and mentoring others to deliver on the Council’s objectives.
• Takes a people-centric approach to leadership, using excellent leadership skills and has the ability to effectively develop and positively motivate a high performing team.
• Proven experience in operational strategic planning.
• Ability to work with an external board or council, specifically in the provision of quality and timely, well researched advice.
• A proven track record of experience and achievement in an advisory and/or analytical role, utilising complex information.
• Has a good working understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and incorporates the principles in everyday work.
• Experienced in budget forecasting and cost centre management.
• Has the ability to identify and manage risks.
• Has excellent communication skills and can persuade using a range of oral, written and visual mediums.
• Willingness and ability to work in a flexible and dynamic environment.

Requirements

• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
• Credit check required (yes).
• Required to drive (no).
• Police vetting (no).

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

General

• Sets strategy for the team and drives delivery of high quality advice and results to maximise the contribution the team makes to ensure Council outcomes.
• Applies sound judgement in shaping the direction and approach to policy advice and tasks, prioritising and integrating across projects.
• Provides high quality commissioning of projects to ensure delivery of excellent and timely advice and results to the Council.
• Manages expenditure and resources in line with approved guidelines, budget, deadlines and reporting requirements, with a focus on driving cost effectiveness.
• Liaises with people and organisations across the electricity sector in delivering the Council’s work programme.
• Is accountable for commissioning project work to ensure the Council is in a position to consider and make decisions on submissions, deliver its work programme and provide informed media commentary on issues affecting residential and small business electricity consumers.
• Considers Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations in all advice provided.
• Leads the team’s delivery of the work programme and provision of administrative services (including board reporting) to support the Council’s operation.
• Is accountable for the delivery of communications tasks required to support the Council’s work, including maintenance of the Council’s website.
• Is accountable for ensuring the team effectively sources relevant research and uses robust data and information to provide advice to the Council.
• Builds and enhances the overall capability of the team to ensure quality work.
• Maintains the separation of the Secretariat service provided by MBIE to ensure the independence of the Council.
• Supports the Chair and Council members to ensure effective operation of the Council.
• Is accountable for commissioning relevant and timely specialist research, analysis and options appraisal upon which to base advice and recommendations to the Council.
• Ensures the maintenance of effective systems to ensure team deadlines are met, projects are delivered on time and within budget, and there is a sound evaluation process in place.
• Identifies and manages conflicts of interest appropriately, recognising the importance of maintaining independence.
• Monitors and reports progress against work programme and takes remedial action when needed.

Strategic and Operational Support

• Works with the Council and, as required, liaises with the Electricity Authority, Commerce Commission, other government agencies, and industry participants on electricity matters that are of importance to residential and small business consumers.
• Demonstrates an ability to provide consistent, informed, high-quality operational and policy advice to the Council.
• Ideally has an understanding of the New Zealand electricity sector, and an understanding of policy developments and challenges within other jurisdictions.
• Undertakes project management and implementation work as requested.
• Provides technical expertise into requests for information under the OIA and other ministerial requests and official correspondence as required.
• Implements Consumer Advocacy Council initiatives.

People Leadership

• Leads the team and understands how to utilise the capability of team members to deliver high quality support.
• Provides a sense of vision and leadership that engages and motivates others’ participation and makes things happen.
• Is responsible for all aspects of people leadership, including recruitment, performance, development, safety and well-being.
• Establishes clear accountabilities, expectations and performance standards with direct reports and ensures regular performance management and development occurs.
• Monitors individual and team performance to ensure that performance targets are met (including proactively identifying and addressing any issues in a timely manner).
• Anticipates future capability needs in resources, identifies gaps in capability and addresses these gaps through targeted recruitment and development or other actions.
• Coaches, mentors and develops staff to meet the needs of the Council now and in the future.
• Models exemplary management and leadership behaviours, and Public Sector ethics and values.
• Fosters an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, on-going learning and knowledge sharing.

Relationship Management

• Recognises the balance between being an MBIE employee while supporting an independent Secretariat and protects both reputations in external interactions.
• Builds constructive relationships with key government and non-government representatives to create awareness of and links with the Council, contributing to ensuring the Council’s views and work are influential in their decision making.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships and partnerships with national and international organisations to identify and share best practice information.
• Tests the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships using a range of appropriate measures and processes (including stakeholder feedback).

Key Relationships

• Chair, Consumer Advocacy Council, and the Council members.
• Ministers and staff in Minister’s offices.
• Electricity sector, including regulators, industry, and international counterparts.
• National Manager, Consumer Services.
• General Manager Business and Consumer.
• All Managers and staff within the Consumer Services unit.
• Staff across Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery.
• Service Providers.

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 Manager, Consumer Advocacy Council position reports into the National Manager, Consumer Services within the Business and Consumer branch. The branch sits within the Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery group.

More information about MBIE's structure

Matatautanga – Competencies (Leadership Success Profile)

The Leadership Success Profile (LSP) is a leadership capability framework, developed by the New Zealand public sector for the New Zealand public sector. It creates a common language for leadership and establishes what great leadership looks like. You can look at the twelve underpinning capabilities and four leadership characters here: Leadership Success Profile | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(external link)

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).

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