Senior Business Advisor
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Digital Data and Insights (DDI) group leads, connects and strengthens MBIE's core data, insights, digital and technology capabilities. Within DDI, the Planning Risk and Assurance Branch is responsible for ensuring DDI operates effectively through good operational processes and strategic advice.
The PRA Branch leads planning, reporting, and risk and assurance for all of DDI. The Branch acts as liaison with our MBIE business partners from communications, legal, people and capability, and finance. We ensure DDI is connected to MBIE’s wider strategic direction and delivers on government accountability requirements.
The Senior Business Advisor reports directly to the General Manager, PRA. The role primarily works with the PRA leadership team, and network of business managers and administrators across DDI. The role is responsible for advising on, and leading, initiatives and engagement to drive effective business operations for DDI and within the PRA branch.
The Senior Business Advisor will bring their business understanding, knowledge of government processes and accountabilities, and skills with managing information and systems to the role. They are a good relationship manager and communicator in order to work effectively between DDI staff and other corporate functions in MBIE. The role requires the agility to manage a variety of tasks, and deal with ambiguity and change, due to the large size of MBIE and range of functions that DDI is responsible for.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- A strong understanding of the processes underpinning operation of the public sector environment, including policy development, Cabinet and parliamentary processes, and machinery of government.
- Experience in working with and applying legislation and policies to an operational context (e.g. the Official Information Act, Privacy Act, and health and safety regulations).
- A strong customer perspective and proven experience in delivering high quality services to internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to quickly collate and assimilate new information and provide advice on unfamiliar and complex issues.
- Excellent political awareness and sensitivity to anticipate areas of potential risk and inform decision-making.
- Proven ability to think across a system, develop frameworks and work within organisation wide systems and processes.
- Ability to explore and evaluate new operational delivery practices and approaches for risks and benefits.
- Ability to focus on both strategic and operational issues.
- Ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Proven ability to develop trust and credibility with managers and staff, including an ability to work with senior managers on difficult and urgent issues.
- Proactive and positive approach to resolving ambiguity and finding solutions.
- High integrity and ability in handling sensitive and confidential information.
- Understanding of MBIE and where the team fits in delivering outcomes for the Ministry.
- Tertiary qualification in a relevant field or comparable experience working in business advisory and support role.
- Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
- Credit check required (Yes).
- Police vetting required (Yes).
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs and the DDI Group matures its operating model. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves. This includes performing any other reasonable duties as required.
Advice and support
- Brings knowledge and advice from DDI’s corporate business partners into planning, performance and reporting, risk management, business continuity planning, continuous improvement and assurance processes.
- Provides high quality, timely advice to Manager, DDI Leadership Team, business management network and administration staff where requested.
- Provides analytical and business management support to the branch leadership team.
- Provides quality advice and support to teams within DDI to contribute to the continuous improvement of business management services, systems and processes.
- Provides quality advice and support to external clients through accurate and timely advice about branch and group matters.
- Acts as DDI’s representative in forums such as business operations, business continuity and ministerial servicing where assigned.
- Maintains a well-developed awareness of branch and group issues and provides where appropriate a group perspective for inclusion into DDI and MBIE projects, policies and procedures.
- Identifies ways of thinking about risks and issues including options to resolve these, ensuring advice links to the work of teams in the PRA Branch.
- Undertakes work that actively contributes to the achievement of the Ministry’s accountability requirements and strategic direction.
Relationship management
- Acts as a key liaison for DDI on matters related to communications, legal, people and capability, and finance.
- Builds a network within DDI, and across MBIE to effectively distribute, collate and deliver on reporting and other deliverables required.
- Works with the DDI and PRA leadership teams to ensure a high level of awareness of context and issues, in order to provide high quality advice to business managers and administration staff.
Business Management
- Provides and assists with quality responses to Ministerial, parliamentary, business management forums.
- Effectively collates and reviews advice and reporting from DDI’s business partners to advise the GM PRA and DDI Leadership Team.
- Leads writing of new or revised guidance and business management documents for DDI.
- Manage the preparation of regular reports and special reporting assignments effectively.
- Leads the analysis of people-related information and data, including capability, workforce management, recruitment and succession planning.
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 Business Advisor position reports into the Manager, Group Planning and Performance within the Planning Risk and Assurance branch. The branch sits within the Digital Data and Insights 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
