Policy Advisor /Senior Policy Advisor (Labour Market Performance and Policy)

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Advise Ministers on the performance of New Zealand’s labour market and develop opportunities for improvement
• Build New Zealand’s labour market data and insights
• Support sectors to understand their workforce needs
• Work across agencies to make the best use of workforce information 
• Work in a collegial environment with opportunities to shape the agenda
• Full-time, permanent | Wellington Central
• Salary range:  
  • Policy Advisor: $75,114 to $93,724 p.a. + KiwiSaver & Wellness Benefits
  • Senior Policy Advisor: $110,098 to $138,028 p.a. + KiwiSaver & Wellness Benefits

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

We are looking for a Policy Advisor or Senior Policy Advisor to join the Labour Market Performance and Policy Team. (Please indicate which position you are applying for).

You will work to better understand the performance of New Zealand’s labour market and take those insights to drive policy development across MBIE, government agencies and sectors. This role offers a mix driving evidence development, linking up government agencies and sectors to make the most of workforce information, and working issues through the policy process.

You will have the opportunity to work with a wide range of policy functions across agencies with labour market, economic and sector responsibilities, and insights teams across government agencies to understand the workforce issues and opportunities sectors and regions face. Key agency partners include the Ministry of Social Development, MBIE immigration policy, Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Commission. This team also works closely with sector bodies and agencies with sector responsibilities. 

Your work will benefit from your initiative and creativity, and your desire to engage and collaborate will be valued. We want your confidence to drive change across the system.

This team’s work utilises a wide range of policy and data analysis skills. We are looking for candidates who have particular strengths in some (but not necessarily all) of these areas: undertaking labour market and workforce analysis, driving the development of better data and analysis, partnering with government agencies and sectors, taking work through the policy development cycle.

About our Policy Advisors

Our Policy Advisors support a variety of policy projects. Working alongside experienced and supportive policy professionals, they develop and apply their public policy skills and experience to deliver results for New Zealand.
 
They use their strong communication skills to engage and work collaboratively with various groups. They bring a base knowledge of public policy as well as an understanding of the machinery of government and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles to better position New Zealand for the future.
 
Our Policy Advisors work across different levels to learn from experts and build their own knowledge. With the wide variety of work across the different policy areas, there are numerous opportunities to develop their policy craft and build their careers within MBIE. 

About our Senior Policy Advisors

Our Senior Policy Advisors work on complex and high-profile government policy projects. They apply their policy expertise to deliver results for New Zealand. They use their strong communication and influencing skills to engage and work collaboratively with various groups. They have great knowledge of legislative frameworks and processes, Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, and a strong understanding of the wider political environment to better position New Zealand for the future.

Our Senior Policy Advisors work across different levels to share their own knowledge with others. With the wide variety of work across the different policy areas, there are numerous development opportunities to grow and build their careers within MBIE.

About the team

The Labour Market Performance and Policy team develops New Zealand’s overarching labour market story – how is the labour market performing, what are the enduring issues, what is coming up, and what are the future forces shaping the workforce that we need to take account of? The team is also focused on supporting workforce planning for key sectors to understand and address the skill and labour challenges that sectors are facing. The team also drives the development and use of labour market information. Current projects include understanding the impact of AI on the workforce and developing New Zealand’s labour market data to better measure skill shortages. 

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required:

We are looking for motivated people with experience in problem solving complex problems and formulating high-quality policy advice for a range of stakeholders and projects.

Ideally you will have:

• Experience leading or working on complex policy projects within central government
• Knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes
• Strong stakeholder relationship building, influencing and engagement skills to gain the cooperation and commitment of others
• Experience working with data and monitoring, with a view to supporting policy development 
• Demonstrated capability in working with stakeholders such as Ministers, senior public service officials, and internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to work through ambiguity and deliver results
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and application of these in public policy and in partnership with Māori
   

You may be an experienced Policy Advisor, or ready to take your next step into a Senior Policy Advisor role – we'd love to hear from you! 

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 on the links below to view position descriptions. 

Policy Advisor 

Senior Policy Advisor

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 Roxana Anderson at roxana.anderson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18996 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday, 22nd February 2026