Principal Advisor Maritime Response Strategy Systems at Maritime New Zealand, Auckland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Mō mātou | About Us 

Our Vision: Preventing Harm. Saving Lives. Securing our Future 

We play a key role in the guardianship of New Zealand waterways. We're bringing together our aroha, work and skills to achieve our outcomes of sustainable supply chains and sectors, safe people and operations, secure ports and ships, and clean seas and waterways. 

Our values are about who we are as individuals and the behaviours we expect from each other at Maritime NZ. 

Care | Kia Tika – we care for each other and do the right thing. 

Connect | Kotahitanga – we unite in a common purpose. 

Courage | Kia Māia – we are brave, capable and confident.  

Mō tō mātou Rōpū | About the team 

Maritime Response (MR) leads the development and sustainment of Maritime NZ’s maritime incident readiness and response capabilities. MR delivers all components of capability through three teams including training and exercises, equipment procurement and maintenance and the development of excellent strategy, systems, planning and practices. Maritime incident readiness and response is managed through our Response, Security and Safety Services (RSSS) Group but is delivered through a whole-of-organisation approach.

Te tūnga | The role

As the Principal Advisor Maritime Response Strategy & Systems, you will provide strategic leadership, expert advice, and technical expertise to strengthen New Zealand's maritime incident readiness and response capability. Working closely with the Manager Maritime Response Strategy & Systems, you'll lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of response strategies, contingency plans, systems, and frameworks to ensure they remain effective, aligned with organisational priorities, and informed by emerging risks and international best practice.

You'll work collaboratively across Maritime NZ, government agencies, industry partners, regional stakeholders, and international counterparts to build strong relationships, drive alignment, and enhance the National Maritime Response System. You'll also play a key role in leading strategic initiatives, providing thought leadership, mentoring colleagues, and supporting programmes that improve readiness, response capability, and safety outcomes.

As a Principal Advisor, you'll use data, insights, and lessons learned to identify risks, influence decision-making, and drive continuous improvement. The role also directly contributes to Maritime NZ's incident response capability, delivering leadership and advisory responsibilities during maritime incidents and emergencies as required.

Nōu te rourou | What you bring

You'll be a strategic and collaborative advisor with the ability to navigate complex environments, build trusted relationships, and influence positive outcomes. Combining strong analytical thinking with excellent communication skills, you'll be comfortable translating strategy into action, challenging thinking constructively, and leading initiatives that improve systems, processes, and organisational performance. You'll bring sound judgement, resilience, and a proactive approach, along with a genuine commitment to working inclusively and respectfully with diverse stakeholders.

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience supporting senior leaders to deliver strategic and operational outcomes.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, including experience applying strategic frameworks and systems thinking approaches.
• Demonstrated experience in strategy development, planning, reporting, and continuous improvement, ideally within complex or all-of-government environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for a wide range of audiences.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to turn insights into practical recommendations.
• Experience providing trusted advice and translating strategy, policy, or principles into effective action.
• Proven ability to lead and contribute to projects and programmes involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills, with a collaborative and customer-focused approach.
• The ability to influence, mentor, and provide subject matter leadership to colleagues and peers.
• Sound judgement and the confidence to address challenging issues in an objective, honest, and respectful manner.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to perform effectively under pressure in dynamic environments.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a high volume of work while maintaining quality outcomes.
• A commitment to working in a culturally safe and respectful manner, with an appreciation of Te Ao Māori and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Mōu | For you

Maritime NZ recognises and respects te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are committed to working with Māori to build strong, meaningful and enduring relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.   

We aim to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported with a sense of belonging. We encourage our people to actively contribute to our workplace culture where we all thrive and authentically live our values. 

Upon joining us you'll receive a full range of benefits including Income Protection and Life Insurance so check out our full range on our careers page to find out more about why we love working here.

Applications for this role close 5pm, Wednesday 19 August 2026.

Please note that you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be considered for this role. We are unable to accept applications via email. Please click the apply button to submit your application.

This is a permanent, full-time role (37.5 hour per week). The appointing salary range is $140,735- $171,945, depending on skills and experience.

The role is primarily based in Auckland; Wellington will be considered, for the right candidate.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Careers.Recruitment@maritimenz.govt.nz