Principal Business Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Partner with senior leaders to drive planning, risk management, continuous improvement and delivery excellence
• Play a key role in protecting the integrity of New Zealand's immigration system
• Wellington based permanent position
• Salary $118,390 - $143,639 + Kiwisaver + Wellness Benefit

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

Are you an experienced strategic advisor who can provide high-quality advice, coordination and delivery support directly to a senior leader in a complex operational and regulatory environment?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Advisor to the General Manager, Immigration Compliance and Investigations (ICI). Working closely with the General Manager and ICI leadership team, you will provide trusted strategic advice, coordination and delivery support to help drive organisational priorities and ensure effective business performance across a complex operational and regulatory environment.

You will play a key role in connecting strategy with delivery, supporting business planning, performance reporting, governance, financial oversight, workforce planning, risk management and continuous improvement. You will also lead or contribute to priority projects, briefings, executive correspondence and business cases, while building strong relationships across MBIE, Immigration New Zealand and external stakeholders to support joined-up decision-making and successful outcomes.

Immigration Compliance and Investigations plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of New Zealand's immigration system by detecting, deterring and responding to non-compliance, supporting lawful employment, and contributing to a fair and credible immigration system.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

• Significant experience providing strategic advice and delivery support to senior leaders in a complex public sector, regulatory or operational environment.
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate complex work programmes, projects, business planning, reporting or governance processes across organisational boundaries.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to understand operational, policy, legal, financial, workforce, risk and performance issues and translate them into clear advice.
• Experience supporting high-level business management functions, such as planning, finance, performance, workforce, risk, assurance, governance or organisational improvement.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including the ability to work confidently with senior leaders and build credibility across a range of internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement, maintain confidentiality and provide trusted advice on sensitive or high-profile matters.
• Resilience, adaptability and initiative, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver quality products at pace.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality briefings, reports, correspondence and executive material.
• Knowledge of machinery of government, public sector accountability settings, regulatory systems or immigration compliance would be advantageous.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
• Consent to and satisfactorily complete a credit check.
• Be able to obtain and maintain Police Vetting.

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. 

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 Sarah Hutcheson at sarah,hutcheson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19931 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Wednesday 19 August 2026.