Senior Permit Officer

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Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Minerals team regulates the responsible development of the Crown’s mineral estate across a range of commodities including gold, silver, platinum, coal and aggregates. The Senior Permit Officer brings regulatory and administrative strengths to the Minerals Team, providing excellent customer service relating to the permit application process and general permit management. This includes checking for applications against acceptance criteria, following up on technical and financial requirements, and compiling documentation to support statutory decisions. The role also requires the maintenance of information in the Online Permitting System and timely responses to general enquiries and requests for information from both internal and external stakeholders.

The position will play a key role in the team that is responsible for assessing both regulatory compliance and the commercial viability of mineral deposits, in line with the strategic direction of the Energy and Resource Markets (ERM) branch and wider Ministry (MBIE).

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

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

  • At least 3 years’ experience in one or more of the following:
    • Team administration
    • A Customer service role
    • A regulatory role
  • Outgoing, self-assured, and persuasive personality
  • Experience of the mineral and/or coal industry is desirable but not essential
  • Ability to understand complex information and relay it with simplicity and clarity to a wide range of audiences
  • Highly developed analytical ability – able to proactively identify problems, research alternatives, and suggest solutions supported by soundly reasoned arguments
  • Ability to make well-informed decisions with an understanding of the regulatory implications of those decisions and actions
  • Experience in using advanced critical thinking, reasoning and judgement to identify issues and problem solve solutions
  • Shows proactiveness and has the ability to work with minimal direction and guidance on what is required and has confidence working on new, difficult or unusual assignments
  • Ability to work with flexibility and to adapt quickly to change
  • Advanced planning and organising skills, including ability to maintain performance when under pressure, critical assessment of work-flows, and appropriate prioritising of work
  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Sound computer and keyboard skills including ability to use Word, Excel, and information databases, and knowledge of web sites and Internet services
  • Ability to think through ambiguous and conflicting requirements and solve problems pragmatically, effectively and promptly
  • Experience in leading multiple pieces of work concurrently and actively, and independently plans and manages work load
  • Coaching and mentoring skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback to others, and pass on skills and knowledge to other staff
  • Demonstrated ability to establish and enhance working relationships
  • Experience of working with diverse stakeholders and ability to positively influence internal and external stakeholders, and earn their respect, trust and confidence
  • Ability to negotiate and communicate directly with individuals and large companies
  • Desire to increase industry understanding of, and compliance with, the regulatory aspects of exploration and mining
  • Desire to play a key role in the quality of support provided to the New Zealand exploration and mining sector

Qualifications

  • A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a team administration, customer service or regulatory role.
  • Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Effective permit management

  • Processing of new permit and change permit applications, in accordance with the relevant legislation and operational policy
  • Uses sound judgement and critical thinking to identify application completeness against the relevant legislation
  • Uploading and maintaining information in the online permit management system (RAPID)
  • Undertake the initial assessment and non-technical processing of applications for permits
  • Undertake the technical and/or regulatory assessment of low-risk applications, as directed
  • Coordinate, monitor and report to the Manager Minerals Operations on the progress of applications through the internal permitting process
  • Ensure Contact information is kept up-to-date in the internal permitting system
  • Actively monitor the NZP&M inbox and respond to requests for advice and information from both internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner
  • Assist on Official Information Act requests if required 

Effective team membership

  • Models behaviours consistent with MBIE values
  • Manage constructive working relationships with work colleagues to enhance understanding needed to achieve desired results
  • Contributes effectively to team development and strategic planning exercises
  • Establishes productive personal relationships with staff to enable the delivery of services

Continuous business improvement

  • All verbal and written communications are of a high standard and professional
  • Internal processes are well documented and reflect the current permit situation
  • Industry express satisfaction with information provided by the senior permit officer
  • Proactive contribution of ideas for continuous business improvement
  • Takes initiative for improving processes and when contributing to continuous business improvement
  • Supports and contributes to cross-team projects to improve the efficiency of the permit allocation regime

Relationship management

  • Good working relationships with other MBIE teams and other regulatory agencies such as Worksafe, DOC, LINZ and Councils are developed through conversation and email
  • Summaries and briefings for management of applications and permits in the individuals’ portfolio are prepared promptly
  • Applies an outward-looking approach to building relationships with external stakeholders to understand their different perspectives, and is able to manage differences of views and reflect them in advice
  • There is quality liaison with other government departments and agencies, as well as other teams within MBIE throughout the assessment of applications

Leadership

  • Active contribution to coaching and mentoring by sharing knowledge
  • Upholds the standards of integrity and conduct expected of people working in the State Sector
  • Understands the issues and drivers for the ERM branch to a sufficient detail in order to provide support

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 Permit Officer position reports into the Manager Minerals Operations within the Energy and Resource Markets branch. The branch sits within the Building, Resources and Markets 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

MBIE value: Māia - Bold & brave, Pae Kahurangi - Build our future, Mahi Tahi - Better together, Pono Me Te Tika - Own it