Employment Relations Authority Officer

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Authority Officer is a team member position in the Employment Relations Authority (the Authority) Support Team in the Employment Services Branch.

The Authority Officer is responsible for the casefile management and the coordination, preparation and delivery of Authority activities to support the Authority Members, including case management conferences, investigation meetings as well as the proofing and publication of determinations to support the Authority Members in undertaking their statutory role.

The Employment Relations Authority (the Authority) helps to resolve employment relationship problems. It does this by investigating and making determinations based on the merits of the case, not on technicalities. It is a Tribunal established under the Employment Relations Act 2000.

The Chief Executive designates employees of MBIE to act as Officers of the Authority as may be required. The Authority Officers are designated to provide the Authority with such services and resources as may be necessary to enable it to effectively perform its functions and exercise its jurisdiction.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and legislative process both orally and in writing to provide quality and consistent advice, services and practice across the Authority.
• Strong attention to detail to enable accurate proof reading and checking of final determinations of the Authority, possessing good judgement.
• Technical knowledge – works to maintain relevant employment law knowledge with the ability to interpret and apply legislation and/or legal documents to enable the provision of procedural advice to parties and to advise Authority Members as to the nature of each claim.
• Time management skills, being able to prioritise work, identify the difference between urgent and important tasks, and possessing excellent communication and organisational skills and be able to exercise discretion to prioritise urgent matters to meet deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to relate to and build rapport with people from a variety of backgrounds, listen empathetically while remaining impartial and communicating directly with diplomacy.
• Professionalism, conscientiousness, integrity, respect, emotional intelligence and ability to retain confidence in dealing with clients of The Authority.
• Conceptual and analytical skills needed to critically assess issues for the purpose of case management and administration.
• Ability to quickly assimilate new information or areas of work and come to an understanding of unfamiliar and complex issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in collaborative and inclusive ways with others, and a commitment to working and contributing as part of a team, taking responsibility for own behaviour and is open to development.
• Sound judgement and the ability to assess and make decisions in order to progress files through the Authority including the ability to act autonomously and fairly in situations of conflict pertaining to an application in order to identify issues and provide information about risks and benefits.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Authority Officers perform a number of statutory functions and powers under the Employment Relations Act 2000 (the Act) and Regulations promulgated under that legislation.

This is exampled by functions and powers to:

• direct parties to mediation;
• direct service, including the method of service, of documents lodged in the Authority;
• issue a witness summons requiring the attendance of a person before the Authority;
• fix disbursements and witnesses’ expenses;
• issue certificates of determination to enable a determination of the Authority to be enforced in the District Court.

As a statutory officer under the Act, Authority Officers are subject to judicial review for the decisions they make in respect of the above matters in the Employment Court (subsequently on appeal, by leave, to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court).

More broadly, the key accountabilities and deliverables of the Authority Officer are to:

• Receive, record and review applications and statements in reply to ensuring all relevant information is correct, all documentation is attached, and proper legal entities are named.
• Ensure legal documentation is correctly served on respondents and determining correct method of service so the application can proceed in the Authority.
• Liaise with external parties to an application, establishing facts, clarifying problems, identifying issues to assess how the application is best handled and progress accordingly.
• Create records and manage information and documentation in a manner consistent with MBIEs systems and information management requirement – both electronically and paper. Recognise and manage risks associated with the management of personal information in accordance with MBIEs policies and processes.
• Schedule and attend case management conferences with the Authority Member and the parties. Taking official minutes ensuring decisions, actions and requirements are captured correctly for the Authority member and facilitate any follow up requirements for additional information, evidence or associated activities.
• Support the finalisation, issuing and publication of Authority determinations including through proofing of determinations and calculations of fixing disbursements and witnesses’ expenses.
• Allocate fixtures using workforce planning and scheduling techniques, issue notices of investigation meetings and directions and service Authority hearings as required.
• Engage effectively with and facilitate interaction between parties and their representatives including responding to enquiries from applicants and their representatives or the public about Authority procedures and progress of applications.
• Respond orally and in writing to enquiries, ensuring information is accurate, for internal and external audiences as required.
• Update records, managing information and documents in a manner consistent with MBIEs systems and information management and required quality assurance standards and requirements.
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in any external interactions
• Effective across culturally diverse settings by ensuring cultural needs are taken into account when planning for and conducting interactions with external parties of different cultures.

Knowledge and data management

The Authority Officer will contribute to a defined and consistent approach to the team’s work by:

• Maintaining an in-depth knowledge of agreed processes and practice resources and the purpose they play in growing consistency of practice.
• Following and applying agreed processes and practice guidance.
• Actively contributing to the collective review and improvement of processes and guidance resources.
• Being flexible and responsive to changes in requirements.
• Providing timely and helpful information to others across the organisation.
• Remaining informed in relation to changes in employment related legislation and relevant case law.
• Ensuring that information collected is fed into business intelligence and case management systems.
• Applying the principles of the Privacy Act, Official Information Act, Public Records Act, and other relevant legislation in how they document and share information about their work.

Relationship management

• The Authority Officer will participate as an active team member and build strong working relationships both across the Employment Relations Authority and with other team members within Regulatory & Advisory Services and wider Employment Services Branch and the wider Ministry.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders as necessary to identify and share best practice information and to promote the Ministry and its services.
• Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve MBIE’s and the Authority’s outcomes.

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 Authority Officer position reports into the ERA Support Manager, Regulatory and Advisory Services within the Employment Services branch. The branch sits within the Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery 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