Policy Advisor | Workplace Relations & Safety Policy branch

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Make a difference and drive real change! Seeking policy professionals with central government policy experience.
• Gain in depth exposure to interesting policy issues, working with stakeholders across MBIE, in Ministers’ offices and externally.
• Full time, Permanent - Wellington Central 
• $75,114 - $93,724 + KiwiSaver + Wellness Benefits

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

Our Policy Advisors play a significant role in the regulation of work in New Zealand. You’ll be part of a team with a policy programme that directly impacts the lives of most New Zealanders. Our policy advice spans areas like the minimum wage, the Holidays Act, employment law, parental leave, health and safety regulations and ACC settings.

    
You will work closely with your team and our policy leaders to support a high performing branch that is also a great place to work.

  
If you join our team, you could be working as part of a project team preparing a Bill or regulations for one of our Minister’s policy priorities; writing advice and Cabinet papers on new priority; or working closely with our regulator to ensure new laws are well implemented – or all three. You’ll almost certainly be working with legislation, or on policy advice which will lead to legislation.

We have Policy Advisor vacancies in the following high performing policy teams:

• Employment Relations Policy
• Employment Standards Policy
• Sectoral Health and Safety Policy

About the teams

The Employment Relations Policy team’s work is all about the laws which govern relationships between employers and workers, e.g. collective bargaining, dispute resolution, personal grievances and pay equity. It is often high profile and fast paced – we give evidence-based policy advice involving interesting trade-offs, in a highly political context. 

Employment Standards Policy advises the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety on minimum employment standards that apply to all employment relationships and the broader regulatory system that makes those rights work in practice.

The Sectoral Health and Safety Policy team focuses on addressing issues in various sectors, working towards a comprehensive set of interventions to help businesses comply with their health and safety obligations. 

About the branch 

The Workplace Relations and Safety Policy branch operates as a team and not as a hierarchy. You’ll be responsible for providing advice and will have opportunities to discuss it directly with Ministers. You’ll be part of a team filled with smart and committed policy professionals with excellent policy craft skills and domain knowledge. We have a positive and engaging work environment in which you can thrive while addressing some of the tricky policy issues that impact New Zealand’s businesses and workers. 

 
Given the unique nature of our systems, you will enjoy working collaboratively and alongside others. You’ll be up for leading a full and interesting work programme that spans multiple Ministers and attracts significant attention.

We are focused on developing our people and with the wide variety of work across the branch there are often opportunities to work with other teams on projects that will help you grow and build your experience and to achieve your career goals.

All of our teams work closely with our operational counterparts, so you’ll get good experience at making sure our policies are well implemented.

About our Policy Advisors

Our Policy Advisors support some of the most interesting, complex and high-profile government 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 and influencing 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. 

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

We’re looking for motivated people with 1+ years central government policy experience, solving problems logically and formulating high-quality policy advice. These roles are all based in Wellington – we’re not looking for candidates based in other centres.

Ideally you will:

• be a critical thinker, problem solver and have a healthy level of curiosity – we’re looking for analytical skills which you can apply to policy problems
• have a good base of experience in public policy as a Policy Advisor and/or your application demonstrates that you have relevant transferrable skills from an advisory, legal or similar role
• have a good understanding of economic principles and the New Zealand economy (this is not a prerequisite but would be advantageous to your application).
• have an understanding of the machinery of government and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• have knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes
• build relationships with others and work collaboratively
• enjoy working on complex problems, generating ideas and coming up with solutions
• be able to work through ambiguity and deliver results

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 Roxana Anderson at roxana.anderson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18103 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Monday, 1st September 2025