Policy Advisors - all levels (Energy Markets Branch)
Wellington, NZ, 6011
Discover a career with purpose at MBIE
- Join the dynamic and collaborative Energy Markets branch!
- Contribute to a significant and exciting programme of work to ensure New Zealanders have secure and affordable energy as the energy system transitions
- Associate Policy Advisor: One fixed-term position (12 months)
- Policy Advisors: Four permanent positions and one fixed term position (12 months)
- Senior Policy Advisors: Three fixed term positions (5, 12, and 18 months)
- Principal Policy Advisor: One position (12 months)
- All roles are based in Wellington. Applications for secondments in are welcome.
About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:
The Energy Markets Branch has a high priority work programme to ensure New Zealand has a supply of secure, sustainable, and affordable energy. You will be responsible for leading or involved in complex policy analysis and providing authoritative policy advice. For more senior roles you will also be coaching and mentoring others.
MBIE and the Energy Markets Branch operate in a flexible way to deliver on Government priorities. This means that whilst you will have a home team, you will be hired into the branch and expected to be able to support policy work across a range of projects and teams.
The open roles sit within the Energy Use, Electricity Markets, and Electrify NZ policy teams to support policy advice on issues including energy efficiency, regulatory oversight, electricity markets’ security of supply, network efficiency and offshore wind legislation.
About the Branch
We are responsible for the energy markets regulatory system, which plays a significant role in supporting a productive and sustainable economy. We aim to make sure New Zealanders have secure, sustainable, and affordable energy to drive our economy and way of life.
Our branch is a fun, collaborative, fast-paced and supportive environment, with established peer learning initiatives, policy fora and cross-team working, and opportunities for engaging with stakeholders.
Our people are talented and unique. We work towards creating a workplace environment where you belong and are enabled and allowed you to do what you do best. We support diversity of background and thinking, so that together we can do work that positively impacts the lives of all New Zealanders.
Salary ranges (lower bound to mid-point):
- Associate Policy Advisor: $63,278 - $68,380
- Policy Advisor: $75,114 – $84,419
- Senior Policy Advisor: $110,098 – $124,063
- Principal Policy Advisor: $132,417 – $146,445
Appointments are usually made up to the mid-point, depending on experience.
Skills and Experience Required - Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana
We are looking for motivated new colleagues with strong analytical and critical thinking skills, the experience or potential to work on primary or secondary legislation, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to deliver results.
You will have the following skills and experience:
- A relevant tertiary qualification
- Knowledge of policy frameworks/principles/tools/approaches and experience in applying these to the analysis of policy issues and formulating high-quality policy advice
- Ability to build relevant knowledge for different policy issues - quickly drawing on information and evidence from multiple and diverse sources
- A collaborative approach to working with others
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with an eye for detail
- Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and application of these in public policy and in partnership with Māori.
For the Senior roles, you will be able to demonstrate experience in working effectively with, public service officials, internal and external stakeholders, and potentially also Ministers.
For some roles, experience and knowledge of the energy sector is desirable (but not a requirement). Please highlight in your application if you have experience in electricity markets, an aptitude for numbers, engineering, economics, another technical background or law.
About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō 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 ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki 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 kaupapa kua 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.
How to Apply - Me pēhea te tono:
Click the options below to view the position descriptions for each role.
All applications must be submitted via our online process. The application portal will ask you to confirm whether you are applying for: the Associate Policy Advisor, Policy Advisor, Senior Policy Advisor or Principal Policy Advisor role; and whether you are open to fixed-term, permanent, or either.
Email Monica Chow at Monica.Chow2@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19792 if you have any further questions.
Applications close 11.59pm on 26th July 2026.
Applicants will be progressed as they apply, so if this sounds like you, please apply now!