Policy Advisor

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Policy Advisor is a team member position in MBIE. As part of the Policy team, the Policy Advisor is responsible for supporting the overall capability of the team.

The Policy Advisor: gathers evidence, analyses policy issues, develops policy options and prepares policy advice for defined policy issues and contributes to larger, more complex projects where others have the accountability for the delivery of outputs.

Workplace Relations and Safety Policy Branch

Employment, Skills and Immigration Policy Branch

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• A good tertiary qualification.
• Must be a NZ citizen or hold a residence class visa.

Policy knowledge and skills

• Is building knowledge of a range of frameworks and methods, and is able to apply appropriate approaches to given policy issues.
• Is able to use critical thinking, clear and logical reasoning and judgement to shape an ambiguous issues into a tractable problem; identify its root causes; draw interferences and use the available evidence in the development of policy options.
• Is able to make a start on analysing issues without the total picture.
• Is able to build requisite knowledge for different policy issues quickly, draw on knowledge of the policy area, use information and evidence from multiple and diverse sources.
• Is able to build relationships with stakeholders, delivery agencies and government agencies, understand their perspectives and reflect them in advice.
• Is able to evaluate the potential risks and impacts of policy solutions.
• Is able to use policy project management processes and has a working knowledge of policy and machinery of government processes.
• Is able to communicate effectively.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Policy activities and tasks

• Sets policy advice in a broad political, economic and strategic context, and conducts analysis within the medium and longer term policy agenda.
• Apply standard frameworks, principles, tools and approaches to the analysis of policy issues.
• Apply critical thinking clear logic reasoning to analyse policy issues.
• Gather, analyse and assess key information and evidence from a variety of sources.
• Establishing a sound base of content knowledge, and learning how to be guided in this process by the policy agenda.
• Engage effectively with delivery agencies, stakeholders and other government agencies.
• Contribute to developing practical and effective policy options that will help to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Provide clear, accurate, and well-reasoned policy products that are targeted to the audience.

Work management

• Works with direction and guidance on what is required and with supervision on new, difficult, or unusual assignments.
• Plans and coordinates process, and manages and delivers policy projects.
• Actively and independently plans and manages own projects and work load.

Relationship Management

• Maintains relationships across a variety of functions and locations. Draws upon multiple relationships to exchange ideas, resources, and know how. Actively seeks to build and maintain a network of contacts.

Capability development

• Takes responsibility for own professional development, working with manager, to seek opportunities to learn.
• Supports less experienced colleagues and may act as a coach and share knowledge and skills. May review policy work and provide quality control.

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

More information about MBIE's structure

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