Senior Advisor, Strategic Policy at Te Rākau Whakamarumaru | National Emergency Management Agency, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Senior Advisor, Strategic Policy

• Are you interested in helping shape the future direction of the emergency management system?
• Do you want to contribute to high quality policy advice to Ministers, NEMA, and wider government during emergency responses and recoveries?
• Do you bring a strong level of critical big picture thinking and a delivery focused approach to work?

We have an exciting role contributing to the development and delivery of NEMA's strategic policy work programme.

Ko wai mātou | About us

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response, and recovery. 

NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills, and perspectives. We support flexible ways of working that bring out the best in you.

We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day-to-day work, values, and practices.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

In this role you will be part of a small team responsible for the development and delivery of NEMA's strategic policy work programme.

The Strategic Policy Team sits within the Policy Unit, which is responsible for navigating and influencing policy settings that underly the emergency management system. The Policy Unit is responsible for providing emergency management related policy advice to government, the CDEM sector, and the wider emergency management and national security systems. The Unit also supports NEMA, its Executive Leadership Team, Regional Emergency Management Advisors, operational business units and CDEM Groups.

The Strategic Policy Team owns NEMA's strategic policy work programme, including the development of new system strategies, settings, policies, and products, and is the interface with a busy cross-government policy work programme.

As part of working within NEMA, there may be a requirement to respond to emergency activations in the event of a national emergency response. This may involve responding to events outside of normal working hours if an emergency response of national significance occurs.

Ko wai koe | About you 

We are looking for candidates with the following attributes: 

• Proven experience scoping and leading strategic policy projects, using relevant policy frameworks and analytical tools to analyse issues and develop advice.

• Demonstrated experience in systems-thinking approaches to deliver policy advice and to anticipate implications of future trends for existing policy trajectories.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, including an ability to build and leverage collaborative internal and external stakeholder relationships to drive system outcomes.
• A solid understanding of legislative reform and processes, emergency management, national security, and/or risk management is desirable. An interest in the field and proven aptitude for fast learning is essential.

• Acts with an understanding of the Crown's obligations under the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and applying Māori perspectives to policy advice.

• Excellent written capability to present complex ideas in an easily understood format.

 Huanga Whaiaro | Key requirements 

• Wide breadth of policy experience, including with Cabinet and wider Machinery of Government processes, scoping and leading policy projects, contributing to inter-departmental policy pieces, briefing for a range of audiences including Ministers, and preparing Cabinet papers.
• Ability to think strategically with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to take initiative and work autonomously.
• Ability to adapt in quickly changing circumstances.
• Ability to deliver high quality work output under pressure.
• Confident, reliable, resilient demeanour.
• Has high standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.

 
Ta matou e tuku | What we offer

We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence is recognised and where staff are encouraged to develop their own talents and potential. We welcome diversity, in all its forms and we believe it is a strength.

All NEMA roles are flexible by default and a positive work life balance is encouraged.

The salary band midpoint for this position is $122,233 including Kiwisaver employer contributions.

Whakaritenga Haumaru | Security Requirements

Due to the security requirements of this role, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident.

Me pehea te tono | How to apply

Please select 'Apply' to download a position description or apply. If you have any questions, contact Kim Thwaites at NEMATalent@NEMA.govt.nz

 Applications close 5:00pm Tuesday 3^rd October 2023