Senior Policy Advisor - Kānoa - Regional Development and Investment Unit at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Wellington

• Opportunity to join Kānoa – RDU’s Strategy and Policy team
• Operate in a dynamic policy environment
• Engage with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Salary Range $103,290 - $132,417 + Kiwisaver + Employee Wellbeing Allowance

What we do

The Strategy and Policy team in Kānoa – RDU is responsible for regional economic development policy, including supporting the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund (RSPF), and working across government to support regional New Zealand to thrive.  

We are a multi-disciplinary policy team, drawing on a range of skills to work across the unit, including with the Investment Management and Regional Development teams. We have an exciting strategic and operational work programme to deliver that will expose you to a wide range of work beyond traditional policy.

Providing sound, evidence informed advice and contributing to key work programmes including complex and high-profile subjects will be central to this role.

The work of the Kānoa - RDU Strategy and Policy team stretches from policy development, to providing strategic advice on individual funding proposals, through to the development of cutting-edge tools and frameworks.

Examples of our previous work include: 

• Developing the policy settings of the RSPF, based on manifesto commitments from the incoming Government;
• Transitioning the role and mandate of Crown Regional Holdings Limited, formerly Provincial Growth Fund Limited;  
• Developing the PRISM Regional Economics Framework tool that helps regions to build on their economic development strengths and address their challenges, and which guides all Kānoa - RDU investment decisions;
• Creating the RSPF Impact Management Framework which will help measure the impact of our investments; and
• Providing advice to Ministers on regional economic development investment opportunities such as an oat milk processing plant near Invercargill, and world-leading lithium recovery technology near Taupō.

Why work for us?

It is an exciting time to be working in regional economic development! There is strong political commitment to supporting our regions in the wake of the pandemic and to strengthen the resilience of our regions in the face of domestic and global challenges and opportunities, such as climate change, demographic change, urbanisation and globalisation.

The team is in a unique position to develop new thinking and provide actionable advice to Government on how we build an economy that supports all New Zealanders. 

Developing our staff is a key focus for MBIE, and the Kānoa – RDU Strategy and Policy team is no exception to this. The Senior Advisor will report to a newly appointed Manager Strategy and Policy, fill a niche in our team of nine, and have ample opportunity for mentoring, coaching and development. 

We are looking for a policy professional who can apply their skills across a range of policy and operational problems.

You will be skilled at working across diverse teams, groups and subject matter areas. 

Ideally you will have: 

• Experience leading complex policy projects within central government
• Knowledge, or a willingness to gain an understanding, of Te Ao Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how they apply in the public sector; and ability to promote the use of Tikanga and Te Reo Māori internally
• Knowledge, or a willingness to gain an understanding, of relevant legislation including the Public Finance Act
• Wide-ranging knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes
• Strong stakeholder relationship building, influencing and engagement skills to gain the cooperation and commitment of others
• Demonstrated capability in working with Ministers, senior public service officials, internal and external stakeholders
• Passion for leading and coaching others to develop their policy craft and take their careers to the next level
• The ability to work through ambiguity and deliver results.

We are open to hearing from individuals that could bring a range of skills and experience to the role.
 

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours. 

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'. 

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Click here to view a position description. All applications must be submitted via our online process.  Email Jess Dalbeth  at jess.dalbeth@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/7287 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Wednesday 10 August 

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