Principal Analyst

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Labour Market Analysis team is responsible for providing actionable insights on labour market performance, trends and requirements in the short, medium and longer terms. A particular focus of the team is to build the next generation of employment forecasts.

The Principal Analyst plays a key role as leader of the analytical work of the Labour Market Analysis team. They will:

• Work in partnership with the Manager and General Manager to develop the analysis and forecasting programme of work.
• Be responsible for leading work to establish forecasts of future labour market performance and needs across the interagency skills, employment and labour market system.
• Work in partnership with others across the branch, MBIE and government (including both policy and analytical teams) to lead the development of high quality, useful analysis;
  Lead projects and the continuous improvement of products and services; provide coaching and mentoring of others across the team.
• Use their extensive knowledge and experience to provide clear, accurate, well-reasoned, and insightful analysis to support the products and services the team provides.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Demonstrated in-depth experience in using, and leading others to use, a range of analytical forecasting techniques and practices, with a particular focus on approaches relevant to the labour market.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative skills.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and mentor others.
• Strong relationship management and confident communicator.
• Understands the Ministry’s role and strong understanding of how government works.

Qualifications

• Relevant post graduate tertiary qualification.
• Relevant work experience.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.

Forecasting and analysis activities (and associated supporting activities) 

• Leads, scopes, shapes, plans and manages complex analytical projects to deliver high quality strategic analysis and forecasting services in risky, complex, ambiguous or sensitive areas.
• Proactively engages with clients and stakeholders to shape projects and develop a strategic view of medium- and long-term needs in a strategic and system context.
• Applies advanced system, strategic and critical thinking, clear and logical reasoning and sound judgement to analyse evidence and issues.
• Applies appropriate analytical and forecasting methodologies.
• Critically synthesises information from domains and uses in-depth knowledge of the subject area and advanced technical skills to draw sound conclusions based on the judicious use of the available evidence.
• Develops innovative, practical, effective and durable analytical approaches and research and evaluation solutions to achieve desired outcomes for our customers.
• Produces clear, accurate, well-reasoned, insightful products and clearly and succinctly communicates issues and concepts.
• Partners with others in the development of policy advice and the provision of briefings (oral or written) for internal clients, Ministers, Cabinet, Parliamentary Select Committees and other stakeholders.
• Leads engagement with delivery agencies, stakeholders and government agencies to ensure the advice provided is practical and effective.
• Plays an active role in developing a strategic view of information needs, and research and evaluation agendas in the medium- to long-term in a strategic and system context.
• Has established subject matter or domain expertise and depth.

Work management

• Takes a technical leadership role in cross-MBIE and cross-government projects.
• Actively leads multiple and/or complex pieces of work concurrently and independently plans and manages workload.
• Uses sophisticated project planning and management techniques to effectively to carry out agreed work, using initiative to resolve conflicts, manage risks and coordinate work with others.
• Chairs and contributes to meetings, particularly 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 and consistently identifies and manages risk, alerting senior managers to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposing solutions.

People leadership

• Provides intellectual leadership by bringing new ideas, techniques and knowledge to analytical and forecasting discussions, and leads strategic conversations across the organisation.
• Leads project teams and understands and utilises the capability of team members to deliver high quality project outputs.
• Provides supervision, guidance, coaching and mentors, and provides on-the-job training for team members.
• Fosters an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, on-going learning and knowledge sharing within the team and across MBIE.
• Leads a quality assurance culture to ensure the integrity, robustness, and utility of research, monitoring and evaluation deliverables.

Capability development

• Takes responsibility for own professional development of core, transferable research/analytical skills and seeks opportunities to learn.
• Uses peer review as a capability development method by ensuring quality, validity, accuracy and consistency of methodologies and results; and considering whether analysis appropriately takes account of relevant political and institutional contexts.
• Supports managers in the development of other staff by transferring skills and knowledge through training, coaching, and leadership on all stages of the project lifecycle.

Relationship management

• Intentionally engages people in making decisions, taking action, and reflecting while conducting research, analysis or evaluation activity.
• Understands and manages interpersonal and group dynamics.
• Builds immediate rapport with stakeholders.
• Balances different stakeholders’ needs in work program.
• Draws upon multiple relationships to exchange ideas, resources, and know how.
• Actively seeks to build and maintain a network of relationships
• Uses relationship management skills to ensure research and/or evaluation task is relevant, and findings are being well-utilised.

Influencing

• Understands the current government context, policy agenda and priorities and demonstrates flexibility, adaptability and strategic agility as the needs and priorities of the Minister and the Ministry change.
• Is able 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.
• Is able to apply an outward-looking approach to building relationships with external stakeholders, delivery agencies and government agencies, understands their different perspectives, and is able to manage differences of views and reflect them in advice.

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 Principal Analyst position reports to the Manager of the Labour Market Analysis team within the Employment Skills and Immigration branch. The branch sits within the Labour, Science and Enterprise 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 New Zealand for All.

To Grow New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi (work). 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