Chief Science Advisor

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Chief Science Advisor provides independent advice on scientific matters to the Deputy Secretary, Labour, Science and Enterprise group and the MBIE science branches (Future Research System, Science System Investment and Performance, Science Innovation and International, Entity Performance and Investment) as well as MBIE’s Senior Leadership Team.

The Chief Science Advisor leads a small, expert team that balances science expertise and science impact, and understands both science providers and science users. They provide support to the two Departmental Science Advisors.  The team provides scientific leadership within MBIE in areas requiring scientific depth.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

A proven track record of experience and achievement in:

• The scientific and academic community.
• Thought leadership with significant contacts throughout the science sector.
• Leadership in the science sector of New Zealand with contributions at an international level.
• Science excellence expertise and/or expertise in assessing for science impact.
• Working in partnership with Māori to actively understand and encourage the use of Mātauranga Māori.
• Honouring Te Tiriti obligations and opportunities is response to addressing the marginalisation of Māori in the RSI system.
• Leadership in equity, diversity and inclusion so everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the science system.
• Strategic agility based on broad knowledge and perspective and a track record in creating breakthrough strategies and plans.
• Communicating; working across research organisations, academia, and government to influence and encourage new thinking, quickly establishing rapport and creating sustained relationships.
• Working with ambiguity, can shift gears comfortably and can decide and act without having the total picture.
• Leadership and coaching capabilities to embed a positive and engaged team culture.
• Being a team player contributing to the leadership of the branch including working with the other parts of the branch e.g., Science Policy to achieve joint outcomes.
• A post graduate qualification in science.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Science leadership

• Brings current science sector expertise, new thinking, and networks into the branch and wider MBIE.
• Provides scientific leadership across MBIE in areas requiring scientific depth.
• Provides advice about science and the science sector to inform policy development and the selection and management of investments.
• Carves out a role for self-building on personal expertise, skills, and knowledge.
• Works and supports staff in the branch and other parts of MBIE building on their knowledge to achieve joint outcomes.
• Champions and communicates MBIE’s science strategies.

Relationship management

• Lead collaborative and purposeful relationships with external stakeholders and staff in MBIE.
• Relates well to all kinds of people - up, down, and sideways, inside, and outside MBIE.

Staff management

• Manage, lead, and develop the team to maximise their performance against objectives and the business plan, ensuring actions align with MBIE’s requirements of a manager and a high-performance culture completing any workforce planning, performance management and staff engagement as needed.

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 Chief Science Advisor position reports into the Deputy Chief Executive in the Labour Science and Enterprise 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