Senior Advisor - Refugee and Migrant Support
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Advisor – Refugee and Migrant Support is responsible for developing and managing strategic relationships with government agencies and other stakeholders delivering settlement services and support.
The role is responsible to ensure the delivery of the strategic priorities and key deliverables agreed for both the Refugee Resettlement Strategy and the Migrant Settlement and Integration Strategy.
The role also plays a critical part in the gathering of knowledge from the field to inform the plans, products and strategies of the Branch, and the dissemination of specialist knowledge and information developed within the Branch back out into the field.
The Senior Advisor provides;
- High level leadership on migrant, refugee and former refugee community issues across the Department and within government at the direction of the National Manager Refugee and Settlement Services.
- Contributes to the development and delivery of programmes to give effect to high level goals and priorities of government and contribute to planning and reporting within the Refugee and Migrant Services Branch.
- The Senior Advisor is responsible for ensuring quality and consistency of advice and practices in relation to their contribution to the branch’s work.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Demonstrated success in thought leadership and engagement with community groups.
- Demonstrated analytical and intellectual leadership skills.
- Ability to anticipate and prepare for problems and identify solutions.
- Competence at finding ways to make progress in complex situations.
- Ability to organise own work to meet timelines, output and quality standards required.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of people and groups.
- Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder and associated relationships.
- Ability to work under pressure while maintaining performance standards, working relationships and personal composure.
- Strong focus on results and delivery.
- Understanding and a good working knowledge of New Zealand’s Refugee and Protection framework including the legislation, policies and community implications.
- Good knowledge of policy developments within the Department and other agencies.
- Awareness of the political environment at a regional and international level.
- Good understanding of government processes and procedures.
- Knowledge of international protection, refugee and asylum matters preferred.
- Good understanding of current developments in policy analysis methodologies in New Zealand and overseas.
- Familiarity with international protection-related issues, and/or other relevant social policy areas.
- Commitment to continuous development.
- Ability to travel to meet the requirements of the position.
- Must be either a New Zealand citizen or hold a permanent residency class visa.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Leadership
- Designs and ensures the delivery of former refugee community programmes and projects, ensuring collaboration and active engagement with delivery agencies and key stakeholders both government and non- government to deliver on New Zealand’s Refugee Resettlement Strategy (NZRRS).
- Designs and ensures the delivery of programmes and projects, ensuring collaboration and active engagement with delivery agencies and key stakeholders both government and non- government to deliver on New Zealand’s Migrant Settlement and Integration Strategy (NZMSIS).
- Draws on research and evaluation – from within the Ministry and external sources – to develop an informed and critical view of opportunities and challenges related to refugee/migrant community and settlement location outcomes.
- Supports the delivery of accessible, responsive settlement services that align with identified needs for refugees beyond their initial reception period in Mangere.
- In collaboration with Information and Education ensures accurate and appropriate settlement information that meets the needs both of prospective and new migrants and refugees.
- Provides input into INZ policy development or changes in refugee and migrant areas.
- Liaises with representatives from key sectors (e.g. refugee advocacy, mental health organisations, and resettlement agencies) to capture relevant sector information.
Relationship management
- Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve desired outcomes.
- Develops effective working relationships with other managers and staff in order to transfer knowledge and learning to the wider organisation.
- Builds strategic alliances with key government and non-government representatives to ensure MBIE’s views are influential in their decision- making.
- Builds and maintains effective relationships and partnerships with national and international organisations to identify and share best practice information and to promote the Ministry.
- Tests the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships using a range of appropriate measures and processes (including stakeholder feedback).
Customer focus
- Identifies the needs or expectations of customers, particularly MBIE (as Programme lead and contracts’ lead agency) and other participating agencies.
- Treats internal customers with the same courtesies they would extend to external customers.
- Works hard to meet customer deadlines.
- Always looks to improve service.
- Maintains professionalism.
Self-management
- Models positive behaviours.
- Models the desired values and culture of the organisation.
- Willingly shares knowledge, expertise and within the team and with others in the organisation.
- Acts with honesty and integrity.
- Welcomes feedback and is receptive to input from others.
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 Advisor position reports into the Manager, Refugee and Migrant Support within the Refugee and Migrant Services branch. The branch sits within the Immigration New Zealand 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
