Senior Employment Relations Adviser at NZ Ministry of Education, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Permanent, full-time opportunity in a small, focused and fun team
• Wellington based
• Education sector collective agreements and pay equity negotiations.
• Provide specialist employment relations advice.

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

The Senior Adviser, Employment Relations will be accountable, as a key member of the Employment Relations team, for preparation, undertaking and implementation of bargaining for education sector collective agreements and pay equity negotiations.

This will involve making a significant contribution to related work programmes and working closely with Ministry colleagues and stakeholders to ensure bargaining outcomes strongly support government policy objectives for education.

You will also be responsible for the end-to-end management of issues which require the provision of specialist employment relations advice.

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

You will have experience working in employment relations and/or industrial relations in a large and complex organisation.

You will also demonstrate:

• Experience developing and implementing bargaining strategies and plans that encompass a broad spectrum of communications activities.
• The ability to work across a number of workstreams and operate in an ever-changing environment.
• Relationship management skills - the ability to influence and advise senior leaders, identify key communications issues, and deliver relevant services.
• the ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangatawhenuatanga

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.

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.

The Education Workforce Group comprises workforce strategy and planning, contracts and implementation, and employment relations, including collective bargaining and pay equity. The group supports the sector to build a workforce that has the capability and capacity to deliver high-quality practice and can support innovation across the system to lift student achievement.

Our education sector Employment Relations team works to ensure current and up to date conditions of employment are in place for people working in schools and kura around the country. We are a small but focused team of twelve specialists who work closely with schools, education sector unions, and peak bodies to set conditions and resolve employment relations challenges within the education sector.

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 Tim Tucker for more information at tim.tucker@education.govt.nz

Applications close Midnight - Wednesday 7 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.