Principal Policy Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Play a lead role in shaping New Zealand’s health and safety system and growing our up-and-coming policy stars.
• Challenging and intellectually stimulating work in a supportive team that is committed to growth and development.
• Flexible working to support your work-life balance.
• Salary Range $132,417 - $160,472 + KiwiSaver + wellness benefits
• Permanent full time - Wellington Central

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

The Sectoral Health & Safety Policy team lead advice on issues across work health and safety and energy safety, with a focus on regulations and sectoral issues.

The work involves a mix of strategic and regulatory work and support for WorkSafe’s operational policy development.

You will have a portfolio of work ranging from lead on discrete issues and reforms to leading or being part of larger project teams for significant regulatory reforms. The work involves regularly engaging with industry stakeholders to inform policy development. 

You will also work closely with the Health and Safety Systems Policy Team, which is responsible for the Act, funding and other system-level issues.

The team also works closely with other teams in the branch working on Employment law and Accident Compensation Policy.

About the branch 

The Workplace Relations and Safety Policy branch operates as a team and not as a hierarchy. You’ll be responsible for providing advice and will have opportunities to discuss it directly with Ministers. You’ll be part of a team filled with smart and committed policy professionals with excellent policy craft skills and domain knowledge. We have a positive and engaging work environment in which you can thrive while addressing some of the tricky policy issues that impact New Zealand’s businesses and workers.  

Given the unique nature of our systems, you will enjoy working collaboratively and alongside others. You’ll be up for leading a full and interesting work programme that spans multiple Ministers and attracts significant attention. Work alongside passionate people and communities.

Our Principal Policy Advisors take the lead on complex and high-profile projects. They apply their experience, skills and talent to engage and work collaboratively with our stakeholders and Ministers. They lead project teams of senior and policy advisors, helping to coach and grow our future talent.
They bring their solid understanding of legislative frameworks, policy processes, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty principles, and the wider political environment to help better position Aotearoa’s workplaces for the future.

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

We are looking for people who can lead major projects in the team and wider branch, diving in where required to provide intellectual impetus to key projects, and also helping join the dots between work going on in our branch and across MBIE. The people we’re looking for will ideally possess the following attributes:

• Wide intellectual reach and breadth of thinking, particularly ability to apply multiple types of analytical framework 
• An ability to shape the authorising environment
• The ability to shape and drive policy projects, leading small projects teams and working closely with our operational colleagues
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to wider strategic issues affecting workplaces and workers
• Extensive experience in public policy, ideally including working on primary legislation and regulation
• A good understanding of economic principles and the New Zealand economy
• A thorough understanding of the machinery of government
• Curiosity and a drive to learn

Needless to say, we are looking for a team player who will play an active role in building a positive team environment and building talent within your team and the wider branch.

What we can offer

Our work is interesting, high-profile and can result in big impacts for everyday New Zealanders. We have a flat structure where you will be talking directly to the Minister and stakeholders about your work. 

We offer a supportive culture where you are encouraged to lead and help scoping and commissioning work and thoughtful peer review from colleagues across the branch is the norm. 

You’ll work closely with the principal regulator, WorkSafe, so you’ll get good experience at making sure our policies are well implemented. 

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. 

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 Dorinda Te Kiri at dorinda.tekiri@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19742 if you have any further questions.

Applications close 5 July 2026