Senior Advisor - School Transport at NZ Ministry of Education, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Contribute to meaningful programmes of work at the interface of policy and operations
• Foster strong relationships across a broad group
• Opportunity to develop important advice on future shape of school transport
• Permanent, full-time role

He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai ōna huanga

We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our ākonga in our education system.

Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown. We are committed to having Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the forefront of our work for and with Māori students, their whānau, hapū and iwi.

Mō tēnei tūranga | About this role

We are seeking a motivated Senior Advisor to join our Planning and Liaison team within the School Transport Group.

You will work in a great, supportive team to:

• Develop innovative, practical and effective operational policy options for School Transport
• Deliver high quality analysis and advice for Ministers and School Transport staff
• Contribute to programmes of work that may be complex, ambiguous and sensitive
• Build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and agencies
• Identify and develop opportunities to give practical effect to Te Titiriti
• Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement within the business
• For more information on this position, please read through the attached Job Description

Salary range: $96,598 - $117,175 per annum + 3% kiwi saver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

We also offer:

• Flexible working arrangements where everyone feels valued & supported
• The ability to purchase extra days leave
• A range of employee network groups
• An inclusive environment that encourages your personal cultural competency journey
• Development and learning, including mentorship programmes and internal secondments
• Wellness initiatives to support your overall health and wellbeing

Mōhou ake | About you

We're looking for experienced professionals that are happy working in an operational policy space. We are interested in hearing about any form of experience, in policy or otherwise, you have that would benefit our mahi.

To be successful in the role, you need to be curious and a critical thinker and problem solver. You'll be a great communicator and work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders, developing relationships at all levels.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector.

You will also demonstrate:

• An ability to bring people together and lead, coach and mentor others to achieve outcomes.
• A proven ability to use data and insights to identify trends, risks and opportunities, to influence and guide organisational and system-level decision making.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and concise advice, and effectively communicate in a diverse range of settings.
• An ability to work independently and collaborate in a fast-paced environment, with high attention to accuracy and detail. 
• Experience of leading and fostering a collaborative and continuous improvement focused culture.
• Understanding of Machinery of Government, public sector delivery structures, and systems.
• Ability to work within the Ministry structures, policies, and priorities, influencing improvement opportunities and creating synergy.

Mātau rōpū ake | About our ministry, group, and team

At Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, we work to provide services and support nationally, regionally and locally to the education sector, and in some cases, directly to ākonga and whanau. To better deliver on this, we are currently undergoing an organisational design change. The transition phase to improve the way we deliver our purpose will be complete in 2023.

For additional information on the changes we are embarking on, please visit here.

School Transport sits within Te Pou Hanganga, Matihiko | Infrastructure & Digital - Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education, a division that leads inclusive, accessible and integrated national, digital and physical infrastructure and transport services to the education system.

School Transport is the second largest procurer of public transport services in the country (after Auckland Transport) and spends around $230m each year assisting over 100,000 ākonga to school each day. As a group, we work collaboratively, react positively to challenges and pride ourselves on innovative school transport solutions. We are proud of our mahi and the culture of our teams. We appreciate and support each other and develop strong relationships that underpin our ability to deliver good work.

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi? | Are you ready to make a difference?

We are committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities.

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your cover letter and CV by using the ‘apply' button below. In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values, your whakapapa or anything you'd like to share about your cultural identity. We're keen to know your motivations, strengths, transferable skills, and the diverse perspectives you will bring to the role.

You are also welcome to reach out to hangangamatihiko.recruitment@education.govt.nz for more information.

Applications close Midnight - Monday 5 June 2023.

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.