Principal Minerals Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Bring your extensive work with the Minerals industry to help the Crown regulate well
• Play a lead role in relation to a wide range of complex Minerals permitting, policy and strategic work
• Salary $132,417 - $160,472 plus KiwiSaver and wellbeing allowance
• Wellington preferred, but Auckland or Christchurch will be considered
• Permanent full-time opportunity

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

We are looking to recruit a very senior regulator to our Minerals team within New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals (NZP&M).  This is your opportunity to bring your significant experience working in, or with, the Minerals industry to help NZP&M regulate well.

In the role, you will:

• Lead complex permit applications;
• Contribute to the development of government policy about the management and allocation of New Zealand’s minerals resources; 
• Represent NZP&M to industry representatives, and a range of other external stakeholders;
• Coach and mentor staff; and 
• Lead projects on a range of topics including business improvement, strategy, and technical analysis

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

You will bring:

• 10+ years working in, or with, the Minerals industry, whether in New Zealand or offshore, including proven technical experience across the Minerals value chain.  Experience in mining projects and/or resource estimation highly regarded
• A relevant tertiary qualification, for example in geology, earth sciences, environmental management, or engineering
• Experience working as a regulator or with regulators
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to work well with a range of people
• Advanced critical thinking, the ability to understand the strategic context and exercise judgement

You must have legal right to live and work in New Zealand

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 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.

Me pēhea te tono - How to Apply:

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/19697 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday 28th June 2026, at 11:59pm.