Senior Advisor Operations
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Advisor Operations is responsible for leading and supporting tactical responses to operational activities and drive efforts towards operational excellence. The role will engage and collaborate with key stakeholders across the organisation and the wider Ministry to address gaps in processes that impact the delivery of our top priorities.
A key part of the role will be maintaining awareness of emerging trends, events (domestic and international), internal initiatives to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure that all operational units of INZ are aligned in their delivery.
The Senior Advisor Operations will provide high-quality, specialist, strategic and operational advice to support the responsibilities of the branch.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Proven experience working with leadership teams and providing high-level strategic and operational advice.
- Strong understanding of developing and managing organisation-wide systems and processes.
- Ability to comfortably develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of people at all levels, both internal and external to the Ministry.
- Strong ability to deliver successful outcomes in a demanding environment.
- Ability to quickly assimilate new information at a high-level and come to an understanding of unfamiliar and complex issues.
- Ability to influence, lead and facilitate others to achieve outcomes.
- Strategic thinker; including the ability to identify and assess organisational risk, long-term potential outcomes and anticipate consequences and trends.
- Strong decision-making skills, using sound, well-rounded, informed and inclusive approaches.
- Must be a NZ citizen or hold a permanent resident visa.
Key relationships
- INZ Extended Leadership team.
- Managers and staff within the wider branch.
- Key leaders across MBIE and within Immigration New Zealand.
- Key stakeholders outside the Ministry.
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. This includes performing any other reasonable duties as required.
Provides advice and support
- Delivers business and advisory services to the branch leadership team, to strengthen the overall capability of the branch and ensure the quality and consistency of service provision and practices across the business.
- Provides support to the branch leadership team on operational matters and assists in the development of advice or briefings as required.
- Leads initiatives to support the execution of Striking the Balance or other strategic or organisational change initiatives and continuous improvement focus across the business.
- Monitor sensitive cases to ensure good outcomes for the branch and Immigration, providing support where required. Escalates issues and risks appropriately.
- Delivery of services, products and programmes that actively support and contribute to the achievement of the Ministry’s outcomes and that deliver to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
- Builds a cross organisational view of subject matter expertise, skills and/or relationships which can be leveraged where appropriate.
Relationship management
- Builds a cross organisational view of subject matter expertise, skills and/or relationships which can be leveraged where appropriate.
- Manages constructive working relationships with work colleagues and external stakeholders to enhance understanding and cooperation needed to achieve desired results.
- Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve MBIE’s outcomes.
- Develops effective working relationships with other MBIE managers and staff to transfer knowledge and learning from the team to the wider organisation.
- Builds and maintains effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, as necessary, to identify and share best practice information and to promote the Ministry, its products and services.
Action oriented
- Takes charge for own work and looks for opportunities to improve with minimum of direction.
- Self-starter who takes initiative to establish projects on their own.
- Seeks input or help when needed.
- Recognises and acts on opportunities.
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 Advisor Operations position reports into the Deputy Chief Operating Officer Immigration within the Chief Operating Officer Immigration branch. The branch sits within the Immigration NZ group.
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
