Principal Investigator
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
Occupational Regulation is a cross-sector team responsible for several different occupational licensing and registration schemes, which currently includes Electrical Workers, Licensed Building Practitioners, Immigration Advisers, Motor Vehicle Traders, Auctioneers and Pool Inspectors. Over time, other licensing/registration schemes might come into or out of Occupational Regulation.
The Principal Investigator is responsible for:
- Carrying out the function of investigating complaints and leading complex investigations relating to persons who allegedly work in contravention of the relevant legislation that Occupation Regulation support.
- Providing subject matter expertise in relation to investigations with a focus on systemic system improvement to both treat and proactively prevent risk.
- Coaching and mentoring Investigators, as well as supporting the Manager, Investigations by providing consistent quality advice.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Significant experience working in an environment of regulatory compliance, preferably in an occupational regulation context - an investigative lead on multiple significant investigations, audits or programmes of work where different skill sets have been required in each one.
- Sound experience in the leadership of complex investigative activity including modern investigation and regulatory techniques, cross agency collaboration and a proven record of results.
- The ability to work with multiple complex ideas in parallel while being able to integrate multiple concepts and deal with ambiguity.
- Proven experience managing complex investigations.
- Has strong investigative process experience, including:
- Preparing investigation reports, ideally in an occupational regulation context to disciplinary tribunal standard.
- Preparing prosecutions, ideally in an occupational regulation context to District court standard.
- A good understanding and appreciation of the principles of natural justice and how these apply.
- An understanding of disciplinary hearing processes ideally in an occupational regulatory setting.
- Ability to understand, use and explain the relevant regulatory frameworks, in particular in relation to the responsibilities of Occupation Regulation e.g. under the Building Act, Electricity Act, Immigration Advisers Licensing Act, and other Acts/regulations relevant to occupations regulated by the team.
- A knowledge and understanding of the Privacy Act 1993, the Official Information Act 1982, the Bill of Rights Act 1990, and the Search and Surveillance Act 2014.
- Experience in application of risk management concepts and techniques as they pertain to decision-making and business operations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and influence without formal lines of authority including in an operational context.
- Is recognised as an expert with a solid network.
- Refined decision-making skills and sound judgement.
- Ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships.
- Ability to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles, including enforcement and reporting.
- Excellent communication skills - able to share knowledge clearly.
- Demonstrated experience in coaching and mentoring others.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Ability to clearly communicate technical information to a non-technical audience.
- Ability to undertake complex work without guidance.
- Ability to provide insight into technical information and complex ideas.
- Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
- Relevant tertiary qualification or extensive investigative and complaints related experience.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
- Supporting the Investigation Manager, providing practice leadership and expert advice in complex investigations and operational activity.
- Identifying and managing high risk cases.
- Undertaking complex and/or high-profile investigations in areas including (but not limited to) unlicensed offending, where a person without the appropriate licensing/registration is carrying out restricted work and licensed offending, where a licensed/registered persons commits a disciplinary offence.
- Preparing investigations/prosecution reports/files to the standard of a disciplinary board/tribunal/District Court.
- Ensuring that all documents required for a matter are assembled and provided to the relevant support team.
- Liaising with the Board Officer on appeals and complaints matters to be discussed at Board meetings.
- Receiving and responding to queries about complaints.
- Selecting and commissioning expert consultants to prepare reports about complaints.
- Maintaining a high level of technical expertise in their area of responsibility.
- Supporting the Manager, Investigations with workflow management and quality assurance systems.
- Contributing to ongoing process and procedural improvement.
- Keeping confidential information confidential.
- Identifying insights from investigative work to influence and inform other team members.
- Providing coaching and mentoring to support best practice across the business.
- Supporting the Manager, Investigations with workflow management and quality assurance systems.
- Undertaking any other duties as required by the Manager, Investigations.
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 Investigator reports to the Manager Investigations in the team of the Market Integrity branch. The branch sits within the Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery group.
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
