Senior Advisor National Security System

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The MBIE National Security System advisory roles are part of the MBIE National Security Intelligence (NSI) team and provides strategic leadership, advice, and subject matter expertise on MBIE’s interface with National Resilience System (NRS), National Security System (NSS), and the Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (ODESC) system. This includes membership on the National Security Board (NSB) and the National Hazards Board (NHB). The purpose of these governance boards is to build a high performing, resilient, cohesive, and effective National Resilience and National Security System, through appropriate governance, alignment and prioritisation of investment, policy, and activity.

The Senior Advisor NSS works with the Lead NSS Advisor and Head of National Security Intelligence to coordinate across the Ministry and manage the Ministry’s interface with the National Security System.

The Senior Advisor NSS key responsibilities are to:

• Take the lead on assigned projects and initiatives that promotes best practice in national resilience and security functions, supporting leadership in national security strategic issues and in responses to national security issues.
• Contribute to the efficient running of MBIE’s national security governance arrangements and responsibilities to the system Governance boards.
• Provide advice and guidance across MBIE to help build understanding of the relevant national resilience and security systems.
• The Senior Advisor position supports MBIE’s NRS/NSS responsibilities and work with Lead Advisors. Senior Advisor positions will work collaboratively across the range of national security issues and support the Lead Advisors NSS and Head of National Security Intelligence

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Strong experience working in an advisory or machinery of government role in the New Zealand government.
• A comprehensive understanding of the public sector environment and a demonstrated understanding of policy and regulatory processes, including government decision-making and operating procedures.
• An understanding of complex inter-agency mechanisms to promote national security intelligence priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly establish, build, and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders.
• Proven ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships, including with senior managers.
• A proactive self-starter who takes initiative and ownership of tasks, demonstrating motivation and drive without the need for close supervision.
• Thrives in fast-moving, dynamic environments with limited structure, demonstrating flexibility and the ability to manage a broad and diverse portfolio of responsibilities, even when not an expert in all areas.
• Has a keen eye for identifying opportunities and acting on them strategically.
• Proven ability to identify and appropriately manage risk.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with (preferably) strong facilitation skills. 
• Proven knowledge and experience in a security intelligence or machinery of government environment within a large organisation or a New Zealand government department is preferrable but not essential.
• Ability to work within a team environment.
• A good understanding of the protocols and processes required when working with protective security requirements, including highly classified material. 

Qualifications 

•  A tertiary degree in a relevant field, or relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. 

Pre-requisites

• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
• Employment requires the candidate to be a New Zealand citizen or resident who has resided continuously in this country for 10 years, OR a citizen of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America, and have resided continuously in one or more of those countries for the past 10 years prior to application, with a background history which is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZSIS towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at a high level.
• Satisfactorily complete pre-employment checks which will include, but not limited to, criminal and credit checks. 

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

NSS leadership and coordination

• Provide expert advice, guidance, and coordination of MBIE’s engagement and representation within the NRS and NSS from a whole-of-MBIE perspective.
• Lead projects to coordinate across MBIE on matters relevant to the National Resilience and National Security Systems.
• Coordinate and provide briefings for senior officials and relevant MBIE Leadership ahead of governance and other system meetings.
• Contribute to and enable effective MBIE representation on committees, working groups and specialist groups to a high standard, as required.
• Increase the knowledge, competency and understanding of the wider MBIE staff who are involved in the National Security System.
• Initiate and lead discussions with stakeholders from proactive identification of potential system issues.
• Provides advice and support to MBIE Senior Leadership Team and response teams during an ODESC system event or incident, as part of strategic crisis incident management. 

Risk management and system improvement 

• Proactively identify potential system issues and initiate strategic discussions with relevant stakeholders.
• Proactively contribute to the development and implementation of effective and fit for purpose risk frameworks and methodology.
• Escalate risks and issues as required and provide appropriate contingencies and actions to minimise risk.
• Build capability across MBIE by increasing staff knowledge and understanding of the NRS and NSS.

Relationship management

• Enhance customer and stakeholder relationships across MBIE to support effective flow of information and intelligence.
• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders in order to identify and share best practice information and to promote the Ministry, its products, and services.
• Develop effective working relationships with other MBIE staff in order to transfer knowledge and learning from the team to the wider organisation.
• Represent MBIE and NSI externally in an effective and professional manner.

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 National Security System position reports to the Head of National Security Intelligence. The National Security Intelligence team sits within the Data, Insights, and Intelligence branch. The branch sits within the Corporate and Digital Shared Services 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