Investment Manager – Science System Investment and Performance

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Investment Manager assists with the management of investment functions for specific funds - balancing effort on selection and managing investments, including working with Service Design and Operations to develop and implement best practice in service design.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• A track record of experience and achievement relevant to this role (investment management, strategy development, relationship management, contract management).
• Managing outcome focussed investments in either the public or private sector through complete cycles of investment based on developing expertise and skills in business, finance and governance.
• Communication and negotiation skills; able to establish rapport quickly, put people at ease while influencing and achieving outcomes and building long term relationships.
• Able to work with ambiguity, can shift gears comfortably and can decide and act without having the total picture.
• Understanding of the current issues, challenges and trends in the science & innovation system.
• Juggling multiple demands, ability to change focus quickly, prioritise work and to deliver results under pressure.
• Working collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding and experience of the machinery of government and public sector management.
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field (science, engineering, business, humanities, public policy).

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Leadership and influence

• Developing an understanding of the portfolio of relevant science investments.
• Building relationships with users of science, education and research providers, industry, community and public stakeholders.
• Developing sector expertise to support the branch in making, managing and assessing science investments (including identifying strategic risks and opportunities).
• Sharing knowledge across MBIE, other government agencies, and other organisations with an interest in science, to support wider government outcomes (including supporting the development of sector strategies).
• Developing an understanding of Māori research interests and how they influence selection and management of investments.
• Demonstrates and builds communication skills.
• Confidently utilises customer service skills.
• Developing an understanding of the role of Board governance/observer.

Analysis, ambiguity and complexity

• Develops sector expertise, based on qualifications or experience.
• Is aware of current trends and issues in Science and Innovation systems.
• Identifies risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Successfully conducts data analysis.

Making investments

• Contributing to the development and implementation of Investment Plans, or other investment strategies according to policies.
• Coordinates efficient, smart funding processes across a variety of funds.
• Contract drafting and negotiation.
• Analysing and advising on business cases.
• Adapting working styles and processes to reflect each fund’s different objectives and design principles.
• Contributes to policy development.
• Demonstrates project management skills.

Managing and monitoring investments

• Effective performance evaluation and monitoring of investments, including the governance of the investments and delivery against contacted outputs.
• Ensuring annual reports and periodic reviews are completed.
• Coordinating annual reporting and review processes.
• Working closely with the Service Design and Reporting team to inform the design of monitoring and evaluation systems.

Branch and team effectiveness

• Working flexibly across work areas to contribute expertise across teams, and support to each other at times of peak workload.
• Contributing to the development of new processes, and identify and implement process improvements, with the Service Design and Reporting and Investment Operations teams, and contributing to policy development.
• Providing advice to the Minister relating to Ministerial Questions, Briefings, Cabinet papers, speeches and OIA requests.
• Contributing to other work of the team as directed by the manager.
• Contributing to projects.

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 Investment Manager Position reports into the manager of respective Investments team in the Science System Investment and Performance branch. The branch sits within the Labour, Science and Enterprise group.

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