Manager, Strategy and Governance

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Manager Strategy and Governance, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is responsible for:

• ensuring the development of a clear strategic plan that brings together strategic priorities across MBIE’s immigration system responsibilities
• supporting the Head of the Office of the Deputy Secretary to drive and lead the strategy for Immigration New Zealand (INZ), as a key enabler of the wider immigration system
• leading INZ’s Governance functions, to ensure that INZ’s, and the wider immigration system’s, strategic priorities are being well managed and overseen.

The role reports to the Head of the Office of the Deputy Secretary Immigration. The Office of the Deputy Secretary is responsible for ensuring that INZ, and the wider immigration system, are collectively leading towards clear and understood strategic priorities and are effectively managing key risks. Across both the strategy and governance functions the role will ensure that the right conversations are had at a senior level and actions are:

• effectively prioritised
• coordinated
• aligned and integrated with the overall strategic direction of INZ and the wider system.

The role is supported by a small team of advisors. It will involve both leading staff and directly undertaking work to lead and shape the role’s strategy and governance responsibilities. It will be responsible for developing and owning INZ’s and the wider immigration system’s strategic plan and maintaining and enhancing a fit for purpose governance system to support this direction. This includes an expectation to ensure the integrity of the INZ governance framework, compliance with external requirements and governance decisions are implemented appropriately and within timeframes.

The Manager, Strategy and Governance will be a member of the Office of the Deputy Secretary leadership team, supporting the Head of the Office to help INZ and the wider system deliver on its strategic priorities.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Demonstrated experience in driving and leading organisational strategy.
• Proven ability and expertise in working with governance boards, specifically in the provision of a high standard and wide range of board and governance support services, including the development of processes and guidelines to support ILT meetings.
• Proven leadership skills including demonstrated ability to engage and motivate staff and an ability to build a strong high performing team in a complex organisation
• Demonstrated experience as a trusted strategic leader to executive leaders, teams and across INZ.
• Ability to develop and deliver bespoke, high quality, fit for purpose governance tools, templates, reports and processes needed to achieve desired goals and objectives, and achieve expected efficiency benefits and on-going improvements in effectiveness of INZ governance.
• Demonstrated experience in analytical and strategic writing and editing skills at a high level including the presentation of information using to deliver high quality outputs.
• Ability to assess, review, analyse and challenge the content and quality of information provided for meetings, and then negotiate with senior leaders to redraft.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, engage and create connections with diverse internal and external stakeholders, and establish credibility with senior leaders, delegates, and stakeholders at all levels.
• The ability to lead across groups and influence decision makers where there is no direct reporting relationship.
• Strong systems thinking skills, able to quickly develop an understanding of context in relation to the requirements of planning and strategy.
• Ability to quickly assimilate new information or areas of work.
• The ability to actively manage multiple work streams at the same time within tight time constraints.
• Demonstrates excellence in communication including the ability to translate complex issues from one level to another.
• Sound working knowledge and understanding of the machinery of government and processes that apply within the state sector.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining key networks and stakeholder relationships.
• Must be a New Zealand resident or a citizen
• Credit check required

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

Leadership in Strategy

• Lead the development and ensure ongoing ownership of a strategic plan that provides clarity across INZ and the wider system on what success looks like, how this will be achieved, and how we know we are on track.
• Ensure that there is widespread ownership and buy-in to the INZ strategy, and that the strategic direction cascades and is directly aligned to MBIE’s broader strategic direction.
• Ensure that key accountability and performance documents from INZ to the Chief Executive and to Ministers on INZ and the immigration system’s performance is directly linked to our strategic priorities.

Leadership in Governance

• Support ILT with managing governance; on issues impacting on reputation and credibility, ensuring appropriate processes and systems are in place to monitor and evaluate organisational performance and risk.
• Create work plans and capability development of the INZ governance system to ensure a fit for purpose system that is consistent with best practice to increase the quality and effectiveness of the INZ governance system.
• Facilitate conversations and provide leadership development and value to internal policies and practices.
• Develop and manage reviews of the governance system and report back to ILT on progress, measuring the efficiency, benefits and ongoing improvements in effectiveness and identify any areas for improvement.
• Work with other business groups to develop the Ministry’s main accountability documents and processes to support good governance.
• Provide effective and timely advice that supports the governance reporting requirements, as required.
• Lead engagement with the rest of the organisation to ensure the ILT is meeting its legislative, organisational, and operational obligations because of exercising their governance model effectively.
• Develop, plan, and manage forward agendas, agendas, schedule of actions and information requests, minutes of meetings, and all information management processes for governance meetings.
• Keep abreast of policies and legislative requirements that may impact the governance system and advise accordingly.
• Ensure improvement opportunities are informed by data and feedback-based insights, validated, and scoped to inform prioritisation and ensure effective implementation of certain changes either in conjunction with Enablement or operational branches to minimise impact and maximise benefit.
• Provides oversight of organisation wide, tasking and coordination ensuring appropriate tracking.
• Work with the team to ensure organisation wide visibility of operational performance.
• Fosters an environment of collaboration to ensure leaders across the immigration system take a system approach prioritising resourcing based on a balanced view of priorities to ensure the best overall result.

Collective leadership

Work collaboratively with the Office of the Deputy Secretary and the Immigration Leadership Team to support achievement of Immigration New Zealand outcomes

• Contributes beyond core functional area to enhance overall effectiveness of the group.
• Ensures consistency and alignment between different teams in Immigration New Zealand and across the Ministry and promotes solution-seeking where there are legitimate differences.
• Represents collective Immigration Leadership Team views and decisions to staff.

Personal leadership

Provide leadership that engages and motivates others to succeed and develop, and proactively share experiences, knowledge, and ideas

• Models exemplary management and leadership behaviours, MBIE values and State sector ethics and values.
• Creates a sense of vision, engages, and motivates people to participate, and makes things happen.
• Fosters an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, ongoing learning, and knowledge sharing.

General management

Apply sound general management practices so that the Team operates effectively and efficiently, and delivers agreed output to support achievement of agreed outcomes

• Develops strategies, work programmes and performance targets, with supporting measurement, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms.
• Monitors and adjusts work programmes through the agreed processes to enable adaptation to changing circumstances.
• Regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies.
• Manages expenditure and resources in line with approved guidelines, budget, deadlines and reporting requirements, with a focus on driving cost effectiveness.
• Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk.

Team Leadership

Build and maintain a high-performing team that can develop and deliver innovative advice, products, and services to support strategic direction.

• Establishes clear accountabilities, expectations and performance standards with direct reports and ensures regular performance management and development occurs.
• Monitors individual, team, and business unit performance to ensure that performance targets are met.
• Anticipates future capability needs across the team, identifies gaps in capability and addresses these gaps through targeted recruitment and development or other actions.
• Coaches, mentors, and develops staff to meet the needs of the organisation now and in the future.
• Identifies and develops talent for key roles.

Relationship Management

Manage constructive working relationships with work colleagues and external stakeholder to enhance understanding and cooperation needed to achieve desired results

• Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve desired outcomes.
• Develops effective working relationships with other managers and staff to transfer knowledge and learning to the wider organisation.
• Builds strategic alliances with key government and non-government representatives to ensure INZ’s views are influential in their decision-making.
• Tests the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships using a range of appropriate measures and processes.

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 Manager, Strategy and Governance position reports into the Head of the Office of Deputy Secretary within the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Immigration. The branch sits within the Immigration New Zealand 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