Policy Team Leader Roles in Building Systems Performance

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Rare policy leadership opportunities 
• Wellington based
• Fixed term opportunity until June 2027
• Salary range $132,417 to $160,472 + Kiwisaver

Lead a talented policy team through a period of significant legislative and policy activity, making a real difference for Aotearoa New Zealand.

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

We have an exciting opportunity to join the policy leadership team in the Building System Performance branch.  The Building System Performance (BSP) branch is responsible for policy and technical oversight, development, implementation, and regulation of New Zealand’s building regulatory system.

Our award-winning policy teams are currently delivering on an ambitious regulatory policy programme which is at the heart of the Government’s plans to increase the supply of affordable housing and remove regulatory barriers to building work, while ensuring that buildings are safe, healthy, and durable. We have a broad and dynamic portfolio of work, and a busy legislative agenda.

Building System Performance works across the building regulatory system to help unlock productivity and improve how building work gets done. Our diverse portfolio spans consenting pathways, building products, the settings that shape consumer and practitioner behaviour, and building performance and resilience and cross-cutting regulatory systems. Current work ranges from alternative consenting pathways to enabling greater use innovative methods such as offsite manufacturing, empowering consumers to make informed choices, adjusting liability settings, and incentivising tradespeople and building professionals to deliver quality work.

As a Team Leader, you will guide senior policy advisors and policy advisors to produce well-reasoned and well written policy analysis and advice. You will work closely with the Policy Manager and Principal Policy Advisors to shape the strategic policy agenda, set team priorities, manage workflow, and maintain quality so advice is clear, robust and aligned with MBIE policy standards. As part of Building System Performance’s leadership structure, you will connect day to day delivery with Branch direction to keep policy work consistent, aligned and impactful.

What you will do - Ngā kawenga:

• Provide people leadership for up to seven direct reports across senior policy advisors and policy advisors, including remote management of people where team members are not located in the same city as you. 
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff, and provide regular performance feedback to support professional growth.
• Constructively work with Policy Managers, Principal Policy Advisors and Policy Directors to set the policy direction and co-deliver the work you lead. 
• Plan and manage the team’s work programme and priorities, tracking delivery and risks
• Commission and review high quality policy advice and Ministerial products, with an opportunity to sign out some products
• Lead engagement with building and construction sector stakeholders on your portfolio of work, and support engagement with the Minister 

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

We are looking for Team Leaders with exceptional policy leadership skills, who have experience navigating complex and sensitive policy domains and leading people to deliver.

What you will bring to the role is:

• Proven experience in delivering high-quality, well-reasoned and practical policy advice to Ministers, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams to deliver, and to mentor and coach individual team members 
• Strong commissioning, workflow and quality management in a busy policy environment
• Experience managing policy projects, Cabinet processes and legislative processes 
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills

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 here to view a position description.

All applications must be submitted via our online process and include a Cover Letter and CV outlining your interest and suitability for the role.

Email Monica Chow at Monica.Chow2@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/20392 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Monday, 16th November 2026, at 11:59pm.