Senior Commercial Advisor
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
Reporting to the Manager Commercial and Sectors, the Senior Commercial Advisor supports Standards New Zealand with the development and maintenance of a financially sustainable business model that will enable Standards New Zealand’s objective to grow value for New Zealand. Standards New Zealand operates a cost recovery model, consistent with the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015, which means Standards New Zealand receives fees and charges from third parties to recover its costs. Standards New Zealand is not directly government or taxpayer funded.
The Senior Commercial Advisor is responsible for developing and driving a strategic commercial approach and framework so that Standards New Zealand takes a consistent, deliberate and planned, end-to-end business view to our financial sustainability. This includes operating on a cost recovery basis, supporting revenue diversification initiatives, developing and using a range of pricing models, analysing complex data and providing financial forecasts, managing contractual arrangements with third parties and improvements to internal processes to recognise financial efficiencies.
This Senior Commercial Advisor role is integral to delivering Standards New Zealand strategic plan that includes building a financially sustainable business model, which enables us to make standards more accessible.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Significant experience working in a senior commercial advisor, management accounting or financial analyst type role
- Demonstrated understanding of effective financial modelling techniques and NZ Treasury’s Better Business Case™ process
- Strong understanding of each stage of commercial process, in particular pricing principles and operating to the principle of a cost recovery model
- Demonstrated experience in leading the development and implementation of commercial strategies, policies and programmes, including monitoring and evaluation
- Experience with commercial contracts including negotiation and development of terms and conditions
- Proven ability to think strategically, develop frameworks, and manage systems and processes
- Demonstrated experience in successfully managing projects and programmes
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, excellent numeracy and analytical capabilities
- Basic understanding of Treasury’s budget bid methodology in a machinery of government environment
- Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation
- Excellent influencing, interpersonal communication and report-writing skills.
- Proven ability to develop trust and credibility at the executive level.
- Sound judgement especially around consideration of risk management and commercial propositions
- A proactive self-starter with energy, drive and a hands-on work ethic
- Active team player and ability to collaborate and contribute knowledge and expertise needed to achieve Standards New Zealand and MBIE’s outcomes
- Working experience in a complex and politically sensitive environment
- Excellent knowledge of MS Office, in particular Excel
- An appropriate tertiary qualification in a related field, preferably commerce or finance
- Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand
Key relationships
- National Manager Standards NZ
- Manager Commercial and Sectors
- Standards NZ Management team and staff
- Sector Engagement Lead
- MBIE Finance and Legal
- Third parties with commercial contracts with Standards New Zealand
- International standards bodies (ISO and IEC)
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
The Senior Commercial Advisor will be required to deliver results in the following areas:
- Support Standards New Zealand to develop a financially sustainable business model which includes pricing models to support operating on a cost recovery basis
- Understand and apply the funding mechanisms and cost recovery principles to pricing decisions, in accordance with the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015
- Lead the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of specific commercial and related programmes, strategies, frameworks and solutions
- Develop and maintain activities to manage and minimise risks in commercial activities
- Carry out analysis of benchmark data to drive better outcomes
- Deliver timely and accuratepricing for new customers, products and services
- Monitor and report on the outcomes of commercial initiatives and programmes to ensure the continuous improvement and financial sustainability of Standards New Zealand
- Co-ordinate and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure initiatives are understood and developed to fit requirements
- Maintain a broad understanding of the commercial standards environment
- Conduct research, analyse benchmark data, identify solutions and make commercially sound recommendations to management to drive improved outcomes
- Prepare business cases using Treasury’s best-practice guidance to present commercial opportunities and investment options to the Standards New Zealand management team and external stakeholders
- Develop best practice standards, policies and processes to support continuous improvement with a focus on commercial operating practices
- Engage with external stakeholders and third party providers to understand their business models and use this understanding to shape Standards NZ’s pricing models
- Ensure Standards New Zealand’s contracts with international resellers and agreements with other national standards bodies are up to date, fit-for-purpose and commercially sound to meet our financially sustainable objectives.
- Use business and market intelligence to identify opportunities for new products and services
- Provide strategic and problem-solving support to the Standards New Zealand Management team in relation to achieving a financially sustainable business
- Develop and/or contribute to the development of metrics to measure the effectiveness of commercial strategies and initiatives
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 Senior Commercial Advisor position reports into the manager Commercial and Sectors within 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
