Senior Advisor – Contracts

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Senior Advisor position provides robust advice and is a key contributor to the operations of the team. The team is responsible for providing consultative advice to managers and operational services liaising internally across the group and with external providers to meet business needs.

The Senior Advisor is responsible for ensuring quality and consistency of advice and practices in relation to their role.

This highly collaborative role will provide robust advice across the work programme of the team and co-ordination across a wide range of operational priorities to ensure SBS develops and maintains high quality, innovative and user-centric practices.

The Senior Advisor takes key roles on large work programmes, taking into consideration strategic direction and operational needs to ensure timely delivery of projects to high customer satisfaction.

The Senior Advisor takes a strategic approach to their advice, brings awareness to risk and issue management and is able to operate in a highly agile manner to meet customer needs. This includes product and/or service ownership, enabling effective working relationships with partners and subject matter experts, achieved through working closely with the wider SBS team and service providers. 

SBS operating model

Our operating model is centred around team members who work interchangeably across all functions and aspects of our customer-focussed service delivery for small to medium businesses. This model enables us to be more responsive to the needs and goals of our customers.

Through this, we bring our people closer together, with a strong focus on personal characteristics that support this flexible way of working.

Our people work as a collective, with groupings of key skills under managers, but with work teams created to suit the needs of the work priorities at hand. The greater flexibility in this structure, allows the ability for our people to develop their career and experiences into areas beyond their initial ‘home’ role and we support each other to do so.

Unique statement – Senior Advisor Contracts

The Senior Advisor Contracts is a role that supports procurement projects and manages the contracts SBS has with external partners delivering services to small business and for SBS.

This includes managing delivery of milestones and KPIs of partners contracted to deliver services.

Key responsibilities will be:

• tracking milestones, deliverables and KPIs of contracts
• including key delivery contracts such as the Regional Business Partner Network
• providing support and training as required to contracted delivery partners, including the Growth Advisors and Service Providers around Aotearoa New Zealand
• understanding, being able to articulate, and manage their work, to support the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• applying specific consideration to ensure their work is accessible to all, and meets all accessibility requirements, with specific consideration given to Māori engagement
• supporting SBS contracts to help increase customer and stakeholder engagement and propel our brand’s image, to achieve and support customer outcomes.

The Senior Advisor Contracts will work closely with the Advisor Contracts and provide guidance, support and advice when required.

Key relationships

The Senior Advisor in SBS will be supporting and enabling several key relationships to support the delivery of the work programme, bringing experience in navigating how to engage with each audience and is confident liaising with partners and stakeholders at the appropriate level, including:

• SBS unit.
• Business and Consumer Branch/ TWSD Group.
• Other branches of MBIE.
• Other Government Departments and Agencies.
• Relevant Ministers Offices.
• External non-Government partners.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• A high level of experience in machinery of government, process improvement, stakeholder consultation processes, and stakeholder relationship management.
• Experience in leading work programmes, taking into account both strategic and operational needs.
• An ability to think strategically and analytically, and translate ideas and concepts into tangible outputs.
• Ability to analyse large, complex policy issues and readily grasp and synthesise the ideas, analysis and advice produced by others and deliver operational outputs for SBS.
• Excellent judgement, integrity and discretion. An experienced problem solver who can manage and mitigate risk.
• Strong communication skills in a variety of formats, and experience in being able to adapt messaging for a variety of audiences, including formal reporting. Proven coaching skills and experience to embed a culture of excellence in the team.
• Flexible and able to pivot in accordance with changing priorities.
• Possess a level of self-awareness about their skills, experience, and areas of development.
• Demonstrates appropriate levels of ownership and accountability.
• Has relevant tertiary education and work experience for the role.
• Demonstrates respect and openness towards all customs, cultures and values.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

The key MBIE capabilities for this job family are below. The employee will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the working environment evolves.

Project management

Applies sound project management practices so that the team operates effectively and efficiently, and delivers agreed outputs to support achievement of MBIE outcomes:

• Manages and supports projects across SBS as appropriate.
• Takes a well organised approach, plans systematically, regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies.
• Takes an agile approach, continuously reviewing the business needs, refining priorities, outlining milestones and deliverables, and identifying opportunities and risks.
• Provides quality assurance on projects, ensuring that processes followed are well thought through and that issues are managed and escalated appropriately, including alerting senior colleagues and/or manager to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposing solutions.
• Effectively allocates tasks within portfolio area, assists others with project planning.
• Comfortable working autonomously or as a part of a larger team.
• Works with others to develop and improve systems and processes that meet the needs of Small Business Services customers. 

Relationship management

• Manage constructive working relationships with work colleagues and external stakeholders to achieve collaboration needed to deliver results for SBS customers.
• Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve MBIE’s outcomes.
• Develops and builds effective internal working relationships with other MBIE managers and staff in order to transfer knowledge and learnings within SBS, and across TWSD and MBIE.
• Builds and maintains relationships with key external stakeholders and partner networks.
• Has strong communication skills to be able to deliver messages in a variety of settings, with sound ability to influence, as required.
• Acts in accordance with Government and the Ministries rules, regulations and expectations when engaging with external stakeholders. 
• Builds strategic alliances with key government and non-government representatives to ensure MBIE’s views are influential in their decision-making.

Cultural intelligence

• Commitment to and willingness to learn and incorporate Te Ao Māori into tasks and deliverables.
• Understanding and application of Treaty principles and how they apply to our work.
• Demonstrate respect and openness towards all customs, cultures and values.

Coaching and mentoring

Contributes to a high-performing team that is capable of delivering innovative advice, products and services to support MBIE’s strategic direction.

• Provides support and shares knowledge through coaching others on machinery of government, stakeholder engagement, development of expertise in subject matter and knowledge of institutional practice.
• Provides constructive, timely and specific feedback to others and gives credit for tasks well done.
• Provides support and feedback in relation to advisors’ development and supporting workflow management.
• Motivates and guides team members through workflow and gives them opportunities to participate in existing and new areas.
• Supports, without taking away ownership of work output or ideas from people leaders and advisors.
• Seeks and explores opportunities to develop the capability of others in the team.
• Seeks and explores opportunities to develop own professional capability and grow own self-awareness for future career opportunities whether as a people leader or a technical leader.

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 Senior Advisor position reports into the Director Contracts, SBS, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery 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