Principal Advisor at Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Principal Advisor- Governance Planning and Programmes



Mō te tūnga | About the role



HUD's Governance, Planning & Programmes team was established to help our people to deliver on our organisational priorities and better housing outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand, by:

• Reducing project management and delivery inconsistencies, inefficiencies, ambiguities and delays
• Enabling visibility of the organisation's programme portfolio, so the right people can be involved at the right time
• Driving effective organisational governance, business planning, and risk management and assurance activity.

As Principal Advisor you will contribute to the design, development and implementation of these organisation-wide approaches, including supporting priority programmes and projects, and leading work relating to governance, planning, risk management, and assurance.



The Principal Advisor is responsible for:

• Partnering with the Head of Governance, Planning & Programmes and working across the team to ensure the successfully deliver the work programme, with a focus on internal engagement, communication, and strategic planning
• Providing expertise in programme and project delivery, planning, governance, project structures, risk and assurance, and other technical matters relating to project management as required
• Providing authoritative advice and supporting programmes of work and project teams across the organisation on complex and sensitive areas
• Effectively influencing through engagement and communication with senior stakeholders including via governance committees
• Providing leadership in best practice and assists with increasing the portfolio, programme and project management capabilities within the team and across the organisation.

Ō wheako, ō pukenga | About you



To thrive in our busy, challenging and changing environment, you will be adaptable, flexible and resilient, and you will bring our values to life as we work together to deliver change for Government.

You will be committed to strengthening the Māori-Crown relationship, and to growing your knowledge and use of te ao māori, te reo, tikanga māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and māori values and perspectives in your work, while supporting others to do the same.



Ideally your skills and experience will include:

• Organisational acumen, with demonstrable experience developing and delivering strategic and operational plans and driving organisational change
• A reputation for political awareness, sound knowledge of government processes, and proven ability to achieve the right results in a political environment
• Is familiar with common programme and project management methodologies, and is able to use project management processes to lead and manage projects effectively
• Is able to navigate effectively and flexibly through standard policy advisory processes and Cabinet requirements, to facilitate effective delivery planning
• Understands the current government context, policy agenda and priorities and demonstrates flexibility, adaptability and strategic agility as the needs and priorities of the Minister and the Ministry change
• Is able to use strategic thinking to identify what is important for the organisation in the medium and long term, and system thinking to see issues in the wider context
• Is able to use advanced critical thinking, reasoning and judgement to identify issues; shape an ambiguous, complex or unclear issue into a tractable problem; identify its root causes; explore and evaluate relevant information and integrate it into the development of options
• Is able to apply an outward-looking approach to building relationships with external stakeholders, policy and delivery teams and government agencies, understands their different perspectives, and is able to manage differences of views and reflect them in advice
• Is comfortable with uncertainty and can make innovative, practical and durable recommendations without the total picture
• Is able to use a range of oral, written and visual mediums to communicate effectively in diverse situations

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply



Please click on the APPLY button to be directed to the application page, from here you can upload your CV and cover letter. Please note, while applications close at 5pm on 4 March 2025, we will be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.



Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.



For tracking and evaluation purposes, all applications must be submitted via our on-line process. You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be eligible for this position.'

For further inquiries please contact