Principal Advisor Accessibility

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

A strategic and specialist digital leadership position in MBIE, the Principal Advisor Accessibility position is responsible for leading accessibility across MBIE’s digital services. This includes:

• The establishment of relevant strategy and work programmes that will contribute to the development of web accessibility systems and solutions.
• Taking the lead in building awareness of web accessibility concerns and creating opportunities for MBIE to deliver on commitments to the AoG Accessibility Charter.
• Designing and overseeing delivery of the reporting and remediation of web accessibility issues across MBIE’s web portfolio, managed by Digital Channels.
• Coaching and mentoring team members.

The Principal Advisor Digital Channels will bring their expert business understanding, relationship management and perspective to work in partnership with MBIE business groups to deliver accessible digital services, content and advice.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Extensive knowledge of the NZ Government Accessibility Charter and implementation strategies.
• Extensive knowledge of the NZ Government Web standards.
• A proven track record and achievement in developing, managing and delivering accessible digital services in or for complex organisations.
• Strong analytical and advisory skills and the ability to think strategically.
• Proven ability to provide business-oriented and pragmatic web accessibility advice to a variety of audiences, including senior business leaders in diverse organisations.
• Proven ability to develop trust and credibility with senior managers and to provide them with wise counsel and strategic advice.
• Exceptional ability to communicate digital and information-related web accessibility risks in verbal and written styles to suit a range of stakeholders.
• Experience in training, coaching and mentoring others in all aspects of accessibility.
• Ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships.
• Understand service centric thinking.
• Wide ranging knowledge of general web and digital best practice with 5+ years’ experience in the digital field.
• A relevant tertiary qualification.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Critical areas of success

Delivery of quality accessibility strategies and workable solutions that contribute to the goals of the Ministry.

The Principal Advisor Accessibility will be required to deliver results in the following areas and be responsible for:

• Supporting the Manager, Digital Channels, to lead MBIE’s web accessibility strategy and oversee MBIE’s progress towards achievement of commitments to the Accessibility Charter.
• Key contributor to MBIE’s commitments to the Accessibility Charter.
• Development of a web accessibility roadmap and work programmes, managing of priorities, monitoring and reporting on toward achievement.
• Coaching and mentoring of the day-to-day accessibility work of a team of digital specialists.
• Building a network of MBIE web accessibility champions.
• Input into MBIE wide strategy.

Personal Leadership

Provide Strategic Leadership that engages and motivates others to succeed and develop, and proactively share experience, knowledge and ideas.

• Modelling positive strategic and leadership behaviours.
• Modelling the desired values and culture of the organisation and leads across the team.
• Encouraging a customer-focused culture across the team.
• Fostering an open, collaborative environment that encourages strategic excellence, is in tune with MBIE business realities and encourages quality delivery, innovation, ongoing learning and knowledge sharing.
• Pro-actively coaches and mentors digital channels and branch staff where applicable.

Strategy Management

Apply sound general strategic practices so that the wider organisation and team both buy into and understand outputs which support achievement of MBIE outcomes.

• Developing and implementing web accessibility strategies, work programmes and milestones for the Ministry with supporting evidence, measurement, monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
• Regularly monitoring and reporting on progress towards achievement of plans and actionable strategies.
• Continually reviewing and considering improvements to operational elements of digital accessibility.
• Effectively and consistently identifying and managing risk.
• Managing expenditure and resources in line with approved delegations, guidelines, budget, deadlines and reporting requirements, with a focus on cost effectiveness in the Ministry.

Strategic Leadership

Create and maintain plans which drive informed and innovative accessibility advice, products and services to support MBIE’s strategic direction.

• Establishing clear expectations and strategic standards with wider Digital Channels team to ensure regular discussion, consistent decision making and digital channel development occurs.
• Monitoring MBIE web accessibility performance to ensure targets are met.
• Providing constructive feedback to wider team and individual business owners on their digital channel accessibility performance.
• Motivating fellow team members and provide them opportunities to participate.
• Coaching and developing MBIE digital team and MBIE’s digital community of practice to meet the web accessibility needs of MBIE now and in the future.

Relationship Management

Manage constructive working relationships with work colleagues and external stakeholders.

• Pro-actively identifying and building key relationships across MBIE’s core business groups to influence and create opportunities to increase accessibility uptake, knowledge and buy-in.
• Participating as an active team member and contributing knowledge and expertise needed to achieve MBIE’s outcomes.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, as necessary in order to identify and share best practice information and to promote the Ministry and its products.
• Develops effective working relationships with MBIE managers and staff in order to transfer knowledge and learning form the team to the wider organisation to increase digital competency across MBIE.

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 Principal Advisor Accessibility position reports into the Manager Digital Channels within the ECoMs (Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Services) branch. The branch sits within the Ngā Pou o te Taumaru group.

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