Policy Director - Employment, Skills and Immigration Policy

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Shape the agenda and work across labour market policy on employment, skills and immigration to support New Zealand’s prosperity 
• Be a key partner to the General Manager and the wider leadership team, supporting an effective, capable and delivery-focused branch 
• Permanent Role | Wellington Central
• Salary midpoint $241,611 p.a. including Kiwisaver

About the branch:

The purpose of the Employment, Skills and Immigration Policy branch is to provide policy advice that:

• improves people’s ability to participate in work and the returns they get
• supports industry to grow, providing new and better opportunities for business and their workers
• ensures that the systems that prepare people for work are future ready

The branch leads the stewardship of the immigration regulatory system, ensuring it operates in New Zealand’s interest and maintains its integrity. 

We are a fun and busy branch, committed to robust and collaborative policy advice. We are involved in a wide set of policy issues – traversing economic and social policy, domestic and international affairs, working closely across MBIE, wider government agencies and with industry stakeholders and sectors. 

Key areas of our work programme include: 

• Developing tools that support industry to plan for their future workforces and workforce needs
• The continuous improvement of New Zealand’s main temporary and resident work visa policies, getting the right balance between meeting the skills needs of the economy and improving employment opportunities for New Zealanders
• A legislative work programme focused on changes to enhance compliance, enforcement and integrity settings in the Immigration Act
• Policies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the immigration funding system
• Regular monitoring of the performance of the labour market and the sharing of labour market insights, including through ‘deep dives’ on topics like the implications of AI for the labour market

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

As Policy Director, you will partner with the General Manager and the wider branch leadership team to:

• fulfil our branch purpose and deliver our complex and ambitious work programme
• grow our leadership role on labour market and immigration policy
• support ongoing branch capability development and culture

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

You will be a natural collaborator and intellectually curious, with significant policy leadership expertise. As someone who is drawn to variety and pace, you will be a self-starter and bring proven experience in:  

• the ability to think and deliver strategically - using experience and judgement to shape the future policy agenda and priorities, identify work programme gaps and delivery risks
• policy leadership - development, analysis and leadership of complex policy work at senior levels providing effective and timely intervention
• influence - developing and maintaining effective relationships with Ministers, senior public service officials and external stakeholders, demonstrating political nous and pragmatism
• people leadership - capability development of policy teams.

What you'll get in return:

The high level of trust and autonomy in this role will mean no two days are the same. Your broad scope means you will develop excellent relationships and networks in our organisation and across the system. You will have a balanced portfolio of work which leverages and grows your skills and expertise. 
We are committed to supporting good work/life balance, keeping you healthy and safe, building your knowledge of te reo and tikanga Māori, and developing your leadership skills, profile and career.

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/18511 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Tuesday, 28th October 2025