Lead Advisor, Policy at Ministry for Regulation, Wellington - Wairarapa

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead policy projects that lift regulatory quality across government
• Collaborate in an environment that values your expertise and ideas
• Join a small, agile central agency with a big mission

This is a full-time fixed term position or secondment opportunity until 31 August 2026, in central Wellington.

About us

The Ministry for Regulation is a small government agency with a big job to do.

We're focused on lifting quality across all regulatory systems and supporting agencies with regulatory responsibilities to align with good practice. We want it to be easier for businesses to innovate, grow and comply, while still ensuring the benefits from regulation that we take for granted won't change. 

We are a small group of dedicated professionals, working in a 'can do' environment.

About the Role

As Lead Advisor, Policy, you'll provide authoritative advice to Ministers on regulatory proposals with significant economic impact.  Reporting to the Manager, Regulatory Policy Design, you'll shape and develop policy, oversee work programmes, and provide thought leadership that contributes to the Ministry's strategic direction.  You'll lead external engagement across government, industry and communities, and draw on deep expertise in regulatory policy, regulatory economics, or fee and levy structures to deliver robust, influential second‑opinion advice on major proposals.

During the course of this fixed term role, you will play a key part in the Ministry's work to implement the Regulatory Standards Act. In particular, you will lead work on the design and implementation of support for the Regulatory Standards Board (in relation to their consideration of consistency accountability statements for Bills).

About you

You bring experience in public policy (including regulatory policy) and excel at critical thinking, communication, and relationship‑building. You work collaboratively to deliver complex, impactful advice. Ideally, you also bring:

• Outstanding written and verbal communication and numerical literacy, with a knack for simplifying complex issues
• Learning agility to quickly acquire knowledge across diverse policy domains
• A track record of coaching, mentoring and supporting team members
• Project leadership experience in complex, multi‑stakeholder work
• Sound judgement, political nous, and strategic agility
• Experience building trusted relationships across agencies and sectors
• Cross‑agency/system engagement that achieves tangible outcomes.

What we can offer you

• A chance to shape regulatory policy at a system-wide level
• A supportive, high-performing team that values diversity of thought and knowledge‑sharing
• Opportunities to build transferable skills and accelerate your career
• Flexible working options.

If you're passionate about improving regulatory systems and influencing policy at the highest level, we'd love to hear from you.

Salary range: $145,563 – $193,287 dependent on skills and experience.

Job description: Lead Advisor, Policy

Questions: Contact the People team people@regulation.govt.nz

How to Apply

Please click the 'Apply for this job' button and provide the requested information.

Applications close on: 14 January 2026