Manager Agency Collaboration

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Manager Agency Collaboration is a leadership position in the New Zealand Government Procurement (NZGP) branch. Each year, the New Zealand Government spends more than $50 billion on goods and services that are essential for the delivery of public services and infrastructure, economic growth, and the wellbeing of New Zealanders. The Government and the New Zealand public expect this spend to deliver value. NZGP is tasked with leading the settings, outcomes and performance of the procurement system managing this expenditure.

The purpose of this role is to support the Head of System Improvement and Engagement in the smooth running of System Improvement and Engagement team, and to assist in meeting operational targets. This role is also responsible for helping the Head of System Improvement and Engagement drive branch strategy and culture to support complex and varied work programmes across NZGP.

The Manager Agency Collaboration leads a team of account managers and others responsible for supporting agencies and facilitating opportunities for collaboration with suppliers, markets, and agencies across the system. The Manager Agency Collaboration will take a proactive and strategic approach to account management. They will also enable ensure a seamless and easy engagement experience for procurement system users when they interact with NZGP.

This role will be responsible for understanding agency needs and emerging opportunities and issues. They will champion a positive customer experience, by bringing back the customer voice and ensuring they are getting the best support available from NZGP. They will engage with stakeholders regularly and have a strong customer focus, ensuring they are well supported. They are seen as an expert across the system and are a trouble-shooter for internal and external stakeholders.

This role is also responsible for actively seeking feedback from across the system to inform policy development.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications – agency collaboration and engagement

• Ability to strategically influence and collaborate with external agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies to increase engagement by customers or potential customers.
• Considerable account management experience in government, a regulatory environment or the private sector.
• Significant experience in influencing, developing and maintaining co-operative, partnering relationships and negotiating with stakeholders, potential suppliers, senior managers.
• Strong conflict management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated by credibility, personal or collaborative influence, managing expectations and targeted persuasion.
• Considerable experience professionally representing an organisation to senior levels across government or the private sector.
• Working understanding of various commercial constructs including commissioning, outsourcing performance based, outcome focussed etc.

Personal specifications – public sector leadership and management

• Solid working knowledge and understanding of the machinery of government and relevant operating procedures and policies and decision-making processes that apply within the Public Sector is desirable.
• Understands (or can quickly develop an understanding of) the strategic context, current policy agenda and priorities for NZGP.
• Political nous, sound judgement, understanding of government procurement trends and the importance of trade to the New Zealand economy.
• Working understanding of public sector planning and budgeting processes. Manages expenditure and resources in line with approved guidelines, budget, deadlines, and reporting requirements, with a focus on driving cost effectiveness.
• Has a flexible approach and mindset, and an ability to adapt processes and products to meet the needs of the sector and achieve NZGP’s goals.
• Solid understanding of system dynamics and the importance of feedback loops in understanding and managing complex systems and the ability to operate in a high performing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality work to effectively carry out the agreed work programmes, including under tight time constraints with multiple objectives running simultaneously.
• Regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies.
• Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk.
• Effective and collaborative leadership experience and successful operational management.
• Experience in building a team with a strong identity that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and manage a team, and operate as an effective and collaborative member of a management team.
• Experienced at developing and delivering a work programme, including the establishment and use of enabling tools and processes.
• Experience with business continuity planning and execution within a medium – large organisation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated by credibility, personal or collaborative influence, managing expectations and targeted persuasion.
• Excellent communication and persuasive skills using a range of oral, written, and visual mediums in diverse situations, particularly in using data and qualitative insights to develop engaging and persuasive material.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining an environment focused on continuous improvement to enhance organisational performance.
• Ability to quickly identify, establish and build strong working relationships.
• Proven ability to develop trust and credibility with senior manager and stakeholders.
• Proven change leadership, communication, and coaching skills to embed a culture of excellence in the team.
• Experience in dealing with ambiguity in a complex and dynamic environment.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Maximise agency uplift of NZGP offerings

• Develop and implement a strategic approach to account management to ensure active and regular engagement occurs with agencies, to achieve the best possible commercial outcomes for government.
• Ensure the appropriate skills and resources are brought together to meet the needs of agencies and to ensure they are leveraging the frameworks, tools and systems NZGP provides.
• Contractual obligations of NZGP, government agencies and suppliers are delivered.
• The uplift and usage of All-of-Government contracts and collaborative procurement approaches is maximised by eligible government agencies.
• Ensure Account Managers provide a customer-centric point of contact for key agencies relating to government procurement.
• Opportunities are identified where NZGP can modify the services / products to provide better outcomes to agencies and government.

Team leadership

• Leads the team and understands and utilises the capability of team members to deliver high quality outputs.
• Provides a sense of vision and leadership that engages and motivates others to participate and make things happen.
• Establishes clear accountabilities, expectations and performance standards with direct reports and ensures regular performance management and development occurs.
• Monitors individual and team performance to ensure that performance targets are met (including proactively identifying and addressing any issues in a timely manner).
• Anticipates future capability needs in the business unit, identifies capability gaps, and addresses this through targeted recruitment and development or other actions.
• Coaches, mentors, and develops staff to meet the needs of MBIE now and in the future.
• Fosters an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, on-going learning, and knowledge sharing.
• Manages people in the team including recruitment, performance, development, safety, and well-being.

Effective stakeholder and relationship management

• Develops and maintains cooperative, partnering relationships with NZGP’s key stakeholders and key agencies using their highly developed influencing, negotiation, collaboration skills and experience.
• Represents NZGP at senior levels across government at an agency and Branch level in a professional manner which provides a strong level of confidence.
• Effectively manages conflict by focussing on meeting customers’ needs and identifying opportunities for resolution.
• Seeks out opportunities to build and maintain effective working relationships with other MBIE managers and staff in order to transfer knowledge and learning to the wider organisation.
• Represents NZGP views and protects its reputation in any external interactions.

Manage relationships with agencies

• Identifies the needs and expectations of customers.
• Ensures robust, expert, considered advice and guidance is given on commercial and/or procurement matters.
• Ensures all stakeholders (internal and external) are well informed to achieve our broader outcomes.
• Proactively establishes and maintains effective working relationships with a network of key stakeholders including external agencies and internals across the NZGP branch.
• Ensures the team is well equipped to lead programme(s) with identified influencers and key clients.
• Builds buy-in for a redefined team direction from inside and outside of the team.
• Demonstrates an understanding of, and focus on, meeting customer needs and identifies opportunities and synergies with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops effective working relationships with other internal managers and staff to transfer knowledge and learning to the team and wider organisation.
• Identifies and establishes productive relationships with key individuals in stakeholder groups.

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 Manager Agency Collaboration reports to the Head of System Improvement and Engagement within the NZGP branch. The branch sits within the Building Resources, and Markets 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