Senior Technical Advisor

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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 Senior Technical Advisor is responsible for providing high quality technical advisory services, in support of Occupational Licensing/Registration functions, to practitioners, stakeholders and the wider Occupation Regulation. They will make decisions under delegation and/or support to the appropriate person for making statutory decisions for licensing, assessments and examinations.

The Senior Technical Advisor takes the lead to manage complex technical work. They provide expert technical advice and thought leadership within their sphere of expertise to solving issues. Through this, they also contribute to the direction set for the team and regulatory regimes the team supports.

In practice the Senior Technical Advisor may develop specialist knowledge in one or two schemes that will be assigned to them.  However, to preserve the resilience of the team, Senior Technical advisors are expected to develop working knowledge of other schemes so they can step in if needed.  They will work closely with their peers to share skills and knowledge, for example one person might have legal skills and knowledge that is useful for other Technical Advisor colleagues.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

  • Significant industry experience as a thought leader in the relevant regulatory system, including knowledge and understanding of:
    • relevant policy, procedures, guidelines
    • occupational licensing/registration requirements under the relevant legislation
    • the Privacy Act 1993 and the Official Information Act 1982.
  • Must be able to understand, use and explain the above, in particular in relation to the responsibilities of Occupation Regulation.
  • A demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the principles of natural justice and fairness.
  • Works effectively without direct supervision, managing and organising fluctuating workloads in sometimes stressful situations.
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise sound, reasoned judgement and decision-making.
  • Establishes positive external relationships with a wide variety of organisations, groups and individuals.
  • Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills, encompassing putting the other party at ease, active listening, questioning, summarising, and an ability to communicate complex technical information to laypeople.
  • Skilled at assessing written work, for example applications and communications.
  • Excellent writing skills, with the ability to present ideas, information and advice, in a way that is understandable and acceptable by a range of audiences.
  • Strong analytical skills and an ability to make linkages between issues, and proactively solve problems to achieve the best outcome.
  • An understanding of quality management systems such as ISO 9001, and experience learning internal or external auditing or assurance regimes.
  • Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and it is a statutory requirement that they must not have worked in Immigration New Zealand visa processing within the last two years.
  • A relevant tertiary qualification or an industry background would be highly valued but the ideal candidate would also bring a solid understanding of occupational regulatory frameworks.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Critical areas of success

  • Assisting the Manager, Registration and Licensing to review and approve (under delegation) complex recommendations about whether persons meet the requirements for registration, licensing, or re-licensing, then make and implement those final decisions. This includes:
    • assessing and making licensing decisions, including fitness
    • providing advice on decisions to revoke licences
    • review and assessment of the adequacy of Continuing Professional Development activities.
  • Maintaining a high level of technical expertise in their areas of responsibility through:
    • understanding international and national trends and how they can inform or may impact New Zealand’s consumer and regulatory environment
    • understanding national bodies or regulatory agencies that inform or work with your team. Identify how they influence practice in New Zealand and how New Zealand contributes to international practice and decisions
    • researching the statutory and technical frameworks and environments the team operates in and identify how that informs or impacts the team and regulatory regime.
  • Maintaining a deep understanding of how the relevant regulatory system works in New Zealand, what the key components of that system are (e.g. Court, Authority, compliance and enforcement teams, dispute resolution etc.) and how they support and connect with each other to create improvement across the regulatory system.
  • Understanding the various types of Government and operational policy, including its intent, relevant to your area of technical expertise.
  • Contributing to the design of audit/assurance policies and procedures.
  • Supporting decision-makers to set competency standards which achieve maximum public and worker safety through least impediment.
  • Leading the development of technical content for website, newsletters, guidance documents and other initiatives. Also responsible for the ongoing maintenance of this content.
  • Reviewing and assessing adequacy of competency evidence of licensed practitioners to identify individuals or collective groups who operate below industry standards.
  • Proactively identifying and advising on areas of risk or low compliance that need to be targeted.
  • Taking on projects that require working with and influencing leaders and leadership teams.
  • Leading technical input to policy or process change initiatives.
  • Leading the development and implementation of a quality management system.
  • Keeping confidential information confidential.
  • Leading service improvement initiatives.

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 Senior Technical Advisor position reports into the Manager, Registration and Licensing within the Market Integrity branch. The branch sits within the Te Whakatairanga group.

More information about MBIE’s structure(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).

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

MBIE value: Māia - Bold & brave, Pae Kahurangi - Build our future, Mahi Tahi - Better together, Pono Me Te Tika - Own it
Last updated: 29 June 2022