Principal Analyst at Electricity Authority, Wellington - Wairarapa

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

About us

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko is an independent Crown entity that regulates the electricity market. We are a kaitiaki of electricity, and our purpose is to enhance New Zealanders' lives, prosperity, and environment through electricity.

The electricity industry is at a pivotal moment, with the journey towards renewable energy sources and innovation reshaping how we operate for the long-term benefit of consumers.

It's an exciting time to join the Authority as we grow our capabilities, expand our reach, build a team ready to empower consumers, boost market competition, and strengthen future networks. Our focus is on making a difference by driving a bold, collaborative work programme and delivering value for the communities we serve.

About the role

We are looking for a principal analyst to take the next step in their career by joining the network policy team. You will be joining a well-established team and play a pivotal part in the policy function at the Authority.

This role will involve managing projects in the distribution network area of the industry.

Key responsibilities

The principal analyst will work across areas such as standardisation and collaboration of distributor practices in connecting and managing distributed generation, battery energy storage systems, vehicle-to-grid and demand-based distributed energy resources. Alongside connections, the role will also focus on how these resources enable flexibility services and the standards that support their technology and use.

You will also contribute to projects in the Future Security and Reliability workstream, including ensuring future common quality and enabling dynamic operating envelopes as distributed energy resources expand.

You will provide a key voice in the Authority's policy development by gathering, analysing, and presenting information to plan, develop, interpret, and review the Authority's policies. You will lead and own these work programmes, support the development of staff assisting you, and contribute to the wider management and strategic direction of the team.

What we're looking for

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and/or extensive equivalent experience, preferably in electrical engineering or distribution networks engineering, planning, or operation
• International experience in distribution, distributed generation, and/or flexibility markets, especially from Australia or the UK
• Demonstrated thought leadership and the ability to operate independently in areas of significant complexity, importance, and urgency
• A can-do attitude with a high level of initiative – someone who challenges current thinking, anticipates future issues, and promotes debate while maintaining sound judgement and discretion
• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to build and maintain relationships with a broad range of stakeholders

Why work for us

Electricity plays a critical role in the quality of our lives and businesses. As electricity kaitiaki, our work is diverse, intellectually challenging, and contributes directly to our communities, economy, environment, and the nation as a whole.

We are a small but high-impact organisation where talented individuals can make a real difference. We foster an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, ongoing learning, and knowledge sharing.

We support a healthy work-life balance and offer a range of benefits to support our teams, including:

• Competitive remuneration
• Flexible working options
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Are you interested?

If you're ready to make an impact and help shape the future of electricity in New Zealand, click 'apply now' and submit your cover letter and CV.

For further details, you can find the position description on our careers page. If you'd like to kōrero more about the role, please contact MyHR@ea.govt.nz

Applications close Tuesday, 18 November 2025 – but we may start considering applications as they are received, so don't wait!