Senior Advisor

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Senior Advisor provides expert governance, research investment and policy advice, working closely with the Advisor, to enable Research Funding New Zealand (RFNZ) to meet its statutory and advisory functions. This role is a trusted advisor to Chair and Board members of RFNZ. RFNZ is an independent board established to make award decisions for specified funds in the research, science and technology sector and provide advice on investment plans, evaluation and funding mechanisms with a funding envelop of approx. $800m.

The Senior Advisor works collaboratively with the Science System Investment and Performance (SSIP) branch as well as with the Science Policy teams to ensure that RFNZ receives appropriate decision making and advisory papers that provide defendable, clear and concise information in a timely manner. They will ensure that advice provided to RFNZ supports high quality, transparent independent decision making related to investment of public research funds. They will work closely with the GM SSIP, Director SSIP and Advisor to anticipate governance issues and help resolve them with appropriate interventions and identify areas of improvement in the governance system. They will work alongside SSIP branch and Science Policy team members to ensure RFNZ decisions and advice are implemented.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Deep understanding of the current issues, challenges, and trends in the New Zealand science & innovation system.
• Deep understanding of research funding processes including, policy, funding mechanisms, decision making and evaluation and performance frameworks.
• Sound understanding of governance concepts and practices
• Deep knowledge of government processes and public sector management practices.
• A sound understanding of the legal framework under which RFNZ operates and implications for appropriate research funding processes.
• Excellent 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.
• Ability to think and act strategically.
• Organisational political savvy with the ability to work with ease in the internal political environment.
• Demonstrated ability in organising workflow and determining priorities.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to analyse information and display sound judgement.
• High level of computer literacy.
• Demonstrated understanding of information management, including the facilitation, security classifications, quality assurance and distribution of documents.
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field and/or comparable relevant experience.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Leading and influencing

• Providing deep sector expertise working with Science Policy and SSIP to deliver high quality advice to enable RFNZ to fulfil its statutory and advisory functions
• Assess papers going to RFNZ and its advisory groups and provide feedback to authors/sponsors as necessary to ensure fit for purpose advice is developed and papers are of an appropriate standard for sign off by the GM
• Lead regular reviews of the governance system and identify any areas for improvement.
• Provide advice to the Board Chair, GM, and Director to ensure the annual work programme fulfils RFNZ statutory and advisory functions.

Governance expertise

• Lead the SSIP and Science Policy teams to develop, plan and manage the forward agenda planning in line with the funding timeline (including decision points). This includes agendas, schedule of actions and information requests, minutes of meetings, and all information management processes for the Ministry’s governance meetings/ committees.
• Work with the Entity Performance and Investment branch to identify suitable RFNZ candidates and induct and train Board members.
• Work alongside SSIP Funding Teams (on funding design and decision points), Science Policy (on gazette notices and ministerial matters), Communications (on RFNZ announcements and media) and Legal to ensure that papers provided to RFNZ meet RFNZ’s statutory requirements.
• Lead the ongoing development and refinement of governance policies and systems to provide clarity on the on the research funding processes including RFNZ actions and the responses, providing transparency of decision-making.
• Finalise, distribute and follow up RFNZ and associated panels minutes and action items as required.
• Support the development of innovative, practical, effective and durable governance support options that will help to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Contribute expertise to enable the SSIP branch to be an excellent fund administrator.
• Support RFNZ on correspondence, OIAs, meeting accountability requirements, reporting to the Minister etc.
• Support RFNZ to produce an annual plan that responds to expectations set by the Minister.

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 reports to the Director Science System Investment and Performance within the Science System Investment and Performance Branch and is a trusted advisor to the Chair and Board members of RFNZ. They work closely with the science teams in MBIE to ensure RFNZ functions in an effective manner that meets the needs of the science sector.

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