Senior Performance Analyst

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Senior Performance Analyst:

• Undertakes and presents analysis using specialist methods and tools.
• Leads development of innovative, practical, and durable data-visualisation, evaluation, research and analytics strategies and programmes (including through engagement with stakeholders).
• Provides authoritative advice in areas that are often complex and sensitive.
• Takes the lead on ‘telling the story’ of Kānoa – RDU investments, including medium-and-longer-term impacts and outcomes, using a mix of visuals and narrative.
• Enhances the overall capability of the team through coaching and mentoring team members during their day-to-day work, and against their longer-term development plans.

Key Relationships

• Communications teams and other non-technical staff in MBIE.
• Core Kānoa partner agencies, such as MPI, TPK, DOC, MoT, NZTE and NZTA.
• Key managers and staff from other regional agencies.
• Economists/Chief Economist.
• Local Government or local businesses responsible for the implementation of funded projects.
• All Managers and staff in Kānoa – RDU.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Proven experience in data storytelling-related roles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Excel, SQL, R or Python.
• Proven experience with data visualisation tools such as Tableau, Power BI or others.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to present complex information in plain English to non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with datasets and identifying data accuracy and quality issues.
• Experience in mentoring and training junior analysts.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Credit check required (no).
• Required to drive (no).
• Police vetting (yes).

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Data Journalism, Data Analytics, Social Science, or equivalent experience.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

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. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves. This includes performing any other reasonable duties as required.

Research, evaluation and analysis activities

• Leads, scopes, shapes, plans and manages analytical projects in risky, complex, ambiguous or sensitive areas.
• Uses a range of evidence including data, research and other information from a range of sources to provide the foundation for evidence-based analysis.
• Applies appropriate analytical and research methodologies.
• Proactively engages with clients and stakeholders to shape projects, including developing viable options, analysis and evaluation, and monitoring and reviewing processes.
• Contributes to or supports others in the development of policy advice and the provision of briefings (oral or written) on policy and research issues for internal clients, Ministers, Cabinet, Parliamentary Select Committees and other stakeholders. 
• Has established some areas of subject matter or domain depth.
• Applies advanced frameworks and methods of analysis to identify problems, analyse issues, and identify and assess strategies to advance knowledge and understanding.
• Applies system, strategic and critical thinking, clear and logical reasoning, and sound judgement to analyse evidence and issues.
• Critically synthesises information from a wide variety of domains and uses in-depth knowledge of the subject area and advanced technical skills to draw sound conclusions based on judicious use of available evidence.
• Develops innovative, practical, effective and durable analytical approaches, and research and evaluation findings that help to achieve desired outcomes.
• Provides clear, accurate and well-reasoned analysis products, and communicates issues and concepts clearly and succinctly.
• Engages clients and users to develop a strategic view of the medium-and-long-term needs and analyses issues in a strategic and system context.
• Leads engagement with delivery agencies, stakeholders and government agencies to ensure advice provided is practical and effective.

Work management

• Plans and coordinates analytical and research process and manages and delivers projects.
• Actively and independently plans and manages own projects and workload.

People Leadership

• Supports less experienced colleagues and shares knowledge and skills.

Capability development

• Takes responsibility for own professional development of core, transferable research/analytical skills and seeks opportunities to learn.

Relationship Management

Manage constructive working relationships with work colleagues and external stakeholders to enhance the understanding and co-operation needed to achieve desired results.

• Participate as an active team member and contribute knowledge and expertise needed to achieve RED and MBIE outcomes.
• Develops effective working relationships with other RED staff and MBIE managers and staff.
• Build and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, as necessary, in order to identify and share best practice information and to promote RED, its products and services.
• 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.
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in external interactions.

Action oriented

Takes responsibility for own work, recognises opportunities and acts with a minimum of direction.

• Takes responsibility for own work.
• Self-starter.
• Seeks input if required.
• Recognises and acts on opportunities.

Self-Management

Takes responsibility for own behaviour and is open to development.

• Models positive behaviours.
• Models the desired values and culture of the organisation.
• Willingly shares knowledge and expertise within the team and with others in the organisation.
• Acts with honesty and integrity.
• Welcomes feedback and is receptive to input from others.

Analytical knowledge and skills

Is professionally expert in one or more technical skill areas:

• Data management and analysis including solving complex problems with efficient and reproducible computer code, data visualisation, and statistical/econometric modelling, inference and forecasting/prediction in domains such as complex surveys and time series.
• Evaluation including design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and projects, and selection of appropriate approaches and methods.
• Communicates effectively.
• Manages ambiguity.
• Has a working knowledge of policy and machinery of government processes.
• Has a knowledge of a range of frameworks and methods, and is able to apply appropriate approaches to given analytical and research issues.
• Understands and is able to select, adapt and use a range of up-to-date frameworks, principles, tools and methods, and can draw on experience in different domains to apply them appropriately to given issues.
• Applies a broad knowledge of frameworks and methods to ensure that the proposed work will meet the information need.
• Understands the current government context, policy agenda and priorities, and demonstrates flexibility, adaptability and strategic agility as the needs and priorities of the Minister and the Ministry change.
• Is able to use strategic thinking to identify what is important in the medium-and-long term and system thinking to see issues in the wider context.
• Is able to apply an outward-looking approach to building relationships with external stakeholders, delivery agencies and government agencies, understanding their different perspectives and managing different views, reflecting them in given advice.

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 Performance Analyst position reports into the Manager - Kānoa Business Intelligence, within the Strategy, Planning and Performance branch. The branch sits within the Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.

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