Refugee Quota Selection Officer

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Strive to deliver excellent customer service
• Interesting and challenging work
• Salary range - $75,114 - $88,266 + KiwiSaver + wellness benefits
• Permanent full time | Mangere Auckland

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

Based ate Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa (Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre), Auckland, Immigration New Zealand’s Refugee Quota Programme team is responsible for implementation of New Zealand’s Refugee Quota (Mandated Refugee) and Refugee Quota Family Reunification visa categories.

The objective of the Refugee Quota Programme is to provide a protection for United National High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) referred refugees in line with New Zealand’s  international and humanitarian obligations and commitments.  

We’re seeking a skilled and adaptable Refugee Quota Selection Officer with strong relationship management and multitasking abilities to join our team. This permanent, full-time role supports the Refugee Quota Programme by making timely, high-quality decisions on refugee selection, assessment, and resettlement—covering UNHCR-mandated and family reunification cases.

Key responsibilities:

• Interview, assess, and decide residence applications under Mandated Refugee and Refugee Quota Family Reunification categories.
• Case manage complex referrals and assess applications across all programme streams.
• Work in a fast-paced, diverse environment with refugee caseloads from Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

You’ll be part of a 10-person team within the Refugee Quota Programme.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

• Understand the purpose and definitions within the Refugee Convention and UNHCR Resettlement Guidelines
• Have experience of working as a decision maker and writing good quality decisions
• Ideally you have experience with working within the refugee sector within New Zealand or internationally 
• Have excellent relationship management skills
• Ability to interview candidates using appropriate sensitivity and investigative techniques to ascertain both documentary and informational authenticity
• Be prepared to travel overseas to interview refugees for New Zealand’s Quota Intake
• Undertake assessment and make decisions on immigration applications 
• Be able to apply robust analysis and judgement to high risk/high value immigration applications/registrations; and make quality recommendations or decisions in accordance with the principles of fairness and natural justice and understanding of immigration outcomes
• Reporting skills as required, with monthly reports to be made on progress in achieving planned results.

For your application to be considered, you must hold either New Zealand citizenship or hold a Permanent Resident Visa.

Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE - About MBIE:

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.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

Click here to view a position description. 

When you are ready to apply please send a CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Email Emily Boyd at emily.boyd@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18545 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday 2 November 2025