Director – Climate Change

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The key purpose of MBIE’s Director Climate Change is to work across MBIE to create cohesiveness in the climate change space, representing and supporting a whole-of-MBIE view on our climate change work programme with key internal and external stakeholders, and working with other senior leaders to achieve the Government’s priorities and outcomes.

The role will provide strategic and proactive leadership working with vertical leads to drive MBIE’s climate change policy and response, influence across government, and help build MBIE’s position as a leader in approaches to reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• All employees are required to comply with MBIE's vaccination policy which seeks to protect the wellbeing, health and safety of our people, their whānau and the community. You are required to hold a valid vaccination pass to be employed at MBIE.
• Strong knowledge of and experience working in climate change policy.
• Proven leadership skills including demonstrated ability to develop trust and credibility with senior stakeholders, work alongside others and to engage and motivate others.
• A strategic thinker who is able to make the connections between various aspects of the organisation and sector, and their implications for their area.
• Strong skills in influencing without formal authority.
• Strong understanding of the processes and systems that underpin operations in the public sector environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manoeuvre through complex political situations effectively and efficiently and to keep inquiring and learning under extreme pressure or in situations with high ambiguity.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Contributes to the shaping of MBIE’s strategy and response

• MBIE’s overall approach to climate change policy is strategic, evidence based and supported by sound thinking.
• MBIE’s senior leadership team has the information on climate change it needs to inform strategies that contribute to our high-level goals and support our purpose of “Growing New Zealand for all”.
• MBIE’s approach to climate change is cohesive and strategic across all policy fronts, including emissions reduction, climate change adaptation, the Carbon Neutral Government Programme, MBIE’s approach to its own carbon emissions, and any emerging areas of practice.
• Members of the senior leadership team have the collateral they need to contribute to broader climate change discussions with external stakeholders.

External relationship management

• Represents whole-of-Ministry views, including articulating portfolio nuances, and enhances MBIE’s reputation in external interactions, represents MBIE at all levels including with Ministers.
• Builds strategic alliances with key government and non-government representatives to ensure MBIE’s views are influential in their decision making.
• Is persuasive with Ministers and senior leaders.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables continued

Internal relationship management

• Is able to influence without formal authority to drive and enable work programme delivery through collaboration and engagement.
• Understands key priorities across MBIE and can successfully focus on areas to enable feasible and desirable change.
• Influences the authorising environment through building and maintaining enduring relationships with senior leaders.
• Provides guidance as to how climate change legislation and decisions should be incorporated into statutory decision making.

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 Director, Climate Change (MBIE) position reports into the Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Programmes. This role has oversight of the related work produced by 2-3 other roles within the Economic Strategy Branch.

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