Principal Advisor Data and Information

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

MBIE’s Principal Advisors Data and Information are responsible for:

• Influencing - they provide strategic advice on complex issues, and facilitate cross-MBIE and cross-system work and partnerships to lift the data and information maturity and capability of MBIE and the government data system
• Leadership - They partner with their manager to shape the team's strategic agenda, and they lead and manage portfolios and projects to solve system-wide challenges
• Strategy - They work with a wide range of internal and external people to help build a shared strategic vision for the future and respond to complex challenges

Their day to day work and activities will vary depending on the team.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Role specific competencies

Professionally expert in one or more of the following professional areas:

• Data and information governance including stewardship, regulatory requirements, policy design and governance frameworks
• Data management including documentation, metadata, standards, systems design, data quality and business intelligence
• Information management including public records management, library collections, document management, information services and regulatory frameworks
• Data science and analysis including solving complex problems with efficient and reproducible analytics, data modelling tools and methodologies and data visualisation
• Research methods including qualitative and quantitative methods, ethics, survey management, managing outsourced experts and using the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure
• Advanced understanding of the evolving data system and the role of data-enabled information in government
• Analysis and strategic thinking / deep domain knowledge, including:
  • Extensive knowledge of a range of frameworks and methods,
  • Ability to apply appropriate approaches to complex, emerging issues,
  • Advanced ability to select, adapt and use up-to-date frameworks, principles, tools and methods and
  • Significant experience in different domains to apply them appropriately to given issues.
• Proven knowledge of project methodologies and experience working in project environments
• Understanding of the current government context, policy agenda and priorities and demonstrates flexibility, adaptability and strategic agility as the needs and priorities of Ministers and the Ministry change
• Effectively influences and shapes the thinking of key stakeholders in order to produce robust advice and strategic decisions

Personal specifications

• A collaborative and action-oriented approach
• Ability to use strategic thinking to identify what is important in the medium and long term and system thinking to see issues in the wider context
• Ability to adapt within a dynamic environment
• Ability to apply an outward-looking approach to building relationships with external stakeholders, delivery agencies and government agencies, understand their different perspectives, and manage differences of views and reflect them in advice
• Able to lead, coach and mentor others
• Excellent organising skills, with an ability to prioritise and juggle multiple tasks for a range of customers
• Understanding of MBIE and where the team fits in delivering outcomes for the Ministry
• Proven understanding of Crown responsibilities under te Tiriti o Waitangi, knowledge of te reo Māori and Māori Data Sovereignty principles
• Previous public sector experience is preferred but not essential

Qualification

• Post-graduate tertiary qualification or proven experience in a relevant discipline.

Requirements

• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Core activities and tasks

• Leads complex programmes and projects to enhance MBIE’s data and information capability requiring deep skills and / or technical expertise
• Develops solutions to MBIE-wide and system-wide challenges, including leading development of strategies and implementing governance for data across MBIE
• Applies advanced and innovative frameworks and methods to identify strategic problems, analyse issues, and identify and assess solution options
• Influences and guide uplift in the confidence, competence and collaboration of data stewards and data and information staff across MBIE
• Leads engagement with internal and external stakeholders and other government agencies on complex / sensitive issues and manages the landing of advice › Scans the horizon for risks, relevant issues and opportunities to increase MBIE’s data and insights capability, and support continuous improvement and innovation
• Leads the promotion of a data culture and the use of data, information and insights by internal and external decision makers and customers
• Partners with your manager and leadership team to drive the strategic agenda and set the direction
• Leads and shapes critical and analytical thinking to understand and address problems and identify solutions
• Enhances the overall capability of the team through mentoring and coaching team members during their day to day work, and towards their longer term development plans
• This role exists in a variety of teams across MBIE, the focus will depend on the work of your team

Work management

• Actively leads multiple and/or complex pieces of work concurrently, and independently plan and manage workload
• Uses sophisticated 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
• 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.
• Works in partnership with manager to deliver on work programme, within the resources available and provides timely reports on progress
• Effectively identifies and manages risk, alerting manager to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposing solutions

Relationship management

• Proactively builds and maintains relationships with stakeholders and a variety of MBIE functions
• Draws upon multiple relationships to exchange ideas, resources, and know how
• Actively fosters a network of contacts to enable delivery on objectives and maintain knowledge of current developments
• Provides support, guidance, coaching and mentoring, and on-the-job training to team members
• Builds immediate rapport with stakeholders and balances different stakeholders’ needs in work program
• Plans, develops and maintains strategic relationships with external stakeholders and other government agencies
• Lives the MBIE values through embracing and supporting others

Emerging leadership

• Leads project teams and understand and utilise the capability of team members to deliver high quality project outputs
• Provides leadership that engages and motivates others to succeed and develop, and proactively share knowledge and ideas
• Provides intellectual leadership by bringing new ideas, techniques and knowledge to discussions, and lead strategic conversations across the organisation and the wider Government data system
• Provides supervision, guidance, coaching and mentoring and on-the-job training to team members
• Fosters an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, on-going learning and knowledge sharing within the team and across MBIE

Capability development

• Takes responsibility for own professional development to seek and select learning
• Actively shares knowledge and skills

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 Principal Advisor Data and Information position reports into a manager within the Data Strategy and Knowledge & Data, Insights, and Intelligence branch. The branch sits within the Digital, Data and Insights 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