Senior Advisor – National Security System
On this page
Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The MBIE National Security Intelligence (NSI) team sits within MBIE Intelligence and provides strategic leadership, advice, and subject matter expertise on MBIE’s interface with the National Security System (NSS). This includes membership on the Security Intelligence Board (SIB). The purpose of the SIB is to build a high performing, resilient, cohesive, and effective 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 National Manager NSI 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 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 National Security System Governance boards.
- Provides advice and guidance across MBIE to help build understanding of the National Security System.
There are two senior advisor positions supporting MBIE’s NSS responsibilities and reporting to Lead Advisors for the NSS. This position focuses primarily on security and intelligence. Both Senior Advisor positions will work collaboratively across the range of national security issues and support the Lead Advisors NSS and Manager NSI.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Strong experience working in an advisory or operational 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 and intelligence priorities.
- A good understanding of the protocols and processes required when working with protective security requirements, including highly classified material.
- Strong stakeholder engagement / management skills.
- Proven ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships, including with senior managers.
- Proven ability to identify and appropriately manage risk.
- Flexibility to adapt within a fast-moving environment.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal with (preferably) strong facilitation skills.
- Proven knowledge and experience in a security intelligence or security systems environment within a large organisation or a New Zealand government department is preferrable but not essential.
- Ability to work within a team environment.
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 engagement and representation into the NSS from a whole of MBIE perspective.
- Lead projects to coordinate across MBIE on matters relevant to security and intelligence within the National Security System.
- Coordinate and provide briefings for senior officials and relevant MBIE Leadership ahead of SIB and NSS meetings.
- Expertly contribute to and enable effective MBIE representation on SIB committees, working groups and specialist groups, as required.
- Increase the knowledge, competency and understanding of the wider MBIE staff who are involved in the National Security System.
- Enhance customer and stakeholder relationships across MBIE to support effective flow of information and intelligence.
- Initiate and lead discussions with stakeholders from proactive identification of potential system issues.
- Proactively contribute to the development and implementation of effective and fit for purpose risk frameworks and methodology.
- Escalate risks and issues as required, alerting the Lead Advisor NSS and provide appropriate contingencies and actions to minimise risk.
- Provides advice and support to MBIE Senior Leadership Team and response teams during an NSS event or incident, as part of strategic crisis incident management.
Relationship Management
- 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 Intelligence externally in an effective and professional manner.
Wellbeing, health and 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 Lead Advisor National Security System within MBIE Intelligence. This team sits within the Digital, Data and Insights branch which is responsible for strengthening MBIE’s core data and insights, digital and technology functions.
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
