General Manager Workplace Relations and Safety Policy

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The General Manager Workplace Relations and Safety Policy plays a leadership role in the stewardship of three regulatory systems (Employment Relations/Employment Standards, Health and Safety at Work and Accident Compensation). In doing so, the General Manger leads the branch in advising Ministers on policy relating to International Labour Policy, Employment Relations and Employment Standards Policy, Work Health and Safety Policy and Accident Compensation Policy.

In addition, the role works closely with regulators, operational and monitoring colleagues within MBIE and in Crown entities. The branch also hosts MBIE's Insights function.

As a member of the Labour, Science and Enterprise (LSE) Group’s Leadership Team, this role will actively contribute to the development of LSE’s strategy and culture and wider MBIE strategic direction.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification or extensive and comparable relevant experience
• Experience leading the development and delivery of policy advice at a senior level
• 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
• Ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships and to develop and maintain effective relationships with Ministers, senior public service officials, and internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to manoeuvre though complex political situations effectively and efficiently and to keep inquiring and learning under extreme pressure or in situations with high ambiguity
• A strategic thinker who is able to make the connections between various aspects of the organisation and implications for their branch
• Proven ability to develop trust and credibility with other senior managers
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programmes over a range of specialist areas taking into account both strategic and operational needs, including the design and delivery of performance monitoring systems
• A wide-ranging knowledge of policy monitoring and accountability disciplines and processes, including the latest developments in techniques and practices
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop diverse teams and different specialisations to deliver on the group’s expectations
• Understanding of Government decision-making and operating procedures
• Extensive experience at a senior level managing people, finances and resources
• A solid understanding of the key influences on the New Zealand economy and business environment
• To be considered for this position you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and consent to and satisfactorily complete a credit check as the position holds financial delegations

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Key deliverables

• Leads the development of policy advice relating to employment relations and standards, workplace health and safety, accident compensation and international labour policy
• Lead the stewardship of regulatory systems along with colleagues in operational, regulatory and monitoring areas
• Provides advice on the effect initiatives in other areas of MBIE may have on the labour market and how it is regulated

Collective leadership

• Participates collaboratively as a member of the LSE Leadership Team, ensure the development of sustainable organisational capability, and achieve expected efficiency benefits and on-going improvements in cost effectiveness
• Represents Senior Leadership Team views to staff
• Takes collective responsibility for the cohesion and performance of MBIE as a whole and provides peer support to other senior managers
• Works with the leadership team to define the outcomes and outputs expected from the Group to deliver on MBIE’s strategic direction
• Contributes beyond core functional area to enhance overall effectiveness of the Group and related work in MBIE
• Ensures consistency and alignment between different teams in MBIE and promotes solution seeking where there are legitimate differences

General management

• Develops strategies, work programmes and performance targets, with supporting measurement, monitoring and reporting mechanisms
• Aligns work programmes with MBIE’s strategic direction and work programmes from other Branches and Groups
• Monitors and adjusts work programmes through the agreed processes to enable the Branch to adapt 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 in MBIE
• Builds continuous review and improvement throughout all elements of Branch operations
• Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk

Relationship management

• Develops effective working relationships with other MBIE managers and staff in order to transfer knowledge and learning from the branch to the wider organisation
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in external interactions
• Achieve Ministerial confidence with Ministers and stakeholders actively seeking MBIE advice and support in times of difficulty
• Builds strategic alliances with key government and non-government representatives to ensure MBIE’s views are influential in their decision making
• Tests the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships using a range of appropriate measures and processes (including stakeholder feedback)

Personal leadership

• Models exemplary management and leadership behaviours and public 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, on-going learning and knowledge sharing

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 General Manager Workplace Relations and Safety Policy position reports into the Deputy Secretary Labour, Science and Enterprise within the Workplace Relations and Safety Policy branch. The branch sits within the Labour, Science and Enterprise group.

More information about MBIE's structure

Ngā Kawenga Ārahitanga – Leadership Expectations

At MBIE our leadership expectations provide consistent language for how we expect our leaders to lead at MBIE. They are supported by our values, and the Public Sector leadership capabilities as described in the Leadership Success Profile (LSP).

Leadership Expectations - Ngā Kawenga Ārahitanga (MBIE)

Lead by example - Whakatinana hei tauira
Enable our people - Whakaāhei ō tātou tangata
Deliver what matters - Whakatutuki ngā manako

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 New Zealand for All.

To Grow 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