Deputy Secretary Policy and Te Tiriti at Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders in this influential executive leadership role.

• Enterprise leadership
• Dynamic Policy portfolio
• System reform and delivery

Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua touches the lives of all New Zealanders. We have a broad range of responsibilities and functions that span digitising government, documentary heritage, working with communities, ensuring effective regulatory frameworks are in place, supporting the executive, and delivering a wide range of services, including for identity.

We are seeking an experienced Policy Leader who will take an enterprise view first, without losing sight of the achievement of Branch responsibilities. They will drive present performance, delivery of ministerial priorities and operational responsibilities, whilst focussing on the future and wider public service.

Reporting directly to the Secretary for Internal Affairs, the Deputy Secretary Policy and Te Tiriti is responsible for providing enterprise level strategic leadership and oversight across a diverse range of policy areas, including gambling, racing, online safety, digital and identity, community wellbeing. .

This role includes the Te Tiriti and Partnerships team, to ensure co-ordinated engagement with iwi, Māori and that our Treaty settlement responsibilities are met.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering the policy work programme in line with current and emerging Ministerial priorities for our portfolios.
• Engaging with Ministers to provide strategically focused, high-quality policy advice
• Providing enterprise leadership across Te Tari in support for Ministers, in particular on the quality of advice.
• Ensuring effective and timely delivery of Ministers' statutory appointment and Crown entity monitoring obligations, in particular with FENZ,.

Success in this role requires a demonstrated track record in providing public policy advice, as well as your ability to deliver and implement effective policy initiatives.

The preferred candidate will bring strategic thinking to anticipate and understand ministerial drivers and priorities, while maintaining oversight of a wide range of policy issues across multiple ministerial portfolios and legislative systems. Exceptional relationship management skills to engage, collaborate, influence and partner across the system to achieve the desired outcomes are required in this role.

You must demonstrate a deep understanding of the relationship between iwi/Māori and government, and be able to lead your Branch in fostering meaningful engagement and achieving positive outcomes for iwi, hapū, and Māori communities

This search is being managed by Rothley Partners on behalf of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua.

Please apply through Seek with an up-to-date CV and covering letter; or alternatively for a conversation in confidence, please contact either Marc Schmid on 021 102 6192 or Kirsty Brown on 021 660 757.

For a candidate information pack, please email info@rothley.co.nz.

Applications close at 5:00pm on Sunday 15^th Feb 2026