Principal / Senior / Policy Advisor (Energy Markets)

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Join the dynamic and collaborative Energy Markets branch
• Contribute to the significant and exciting programme of work to ensure New Zealanders have secure, sustainable, and affordable energy
• Multiple permanent roles available across Energy Markets Branch: Principal, Senior, and Policy Advisors

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

The Energy Markets Branch has a high priority work programme to ensure New Zealanders have secure, sustainable, and affordable energy.
 
Depending on your role, you will be responsible for or involved in complex policy analysis and providing authoritative policy advice, for more senior roles you will also be leading complex policy work and teams, and coaching and mentoring others. For some roles sector experience, economics, and/or some experience with numbers would be useful (not essential).
 
MBIE and the Energy Markets Branch operate in a flexible way to deliver on Government priorities. This means you will be expected to be able to work across a range of projects and teams. We are recruiting across all teams:

Electricity Markets Policy is responsible for policy and regulation relating to generation, the wholesale and retail market arrangements for the electricity system in NZ, and advice on industrial and retail pricing. The team overseas the work of, and legislation that provides for, the Electricity Authority and the electricity industry. The team works alongside agencies such as the Electricity Authority (mainly Wholesale and Monitoring) and Commerce Commission who are also regulators.
Innovation and International is responsible for policy settings to ensure we take advantage of new technologies to create a smarter and lower carbon energy system. It is also responsible coordinating across the branch, MBIE, and with other agencies on international energy engagement and collaboration.
Energy Use Policy is responsible for policy and regulation relating to the use of and demand for energy, including industrials, households and communities. The team oversee and guide policy for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and is responsible for the EEC Act which establishes the EECA. 
The team works alongside agencies such as EECA, Ministry for the Environment, the Electricity Authority (mainly Consumer) and the Commerce Commission.
Electrify NZ is responsible for key parts of the government’s Electrify NZ programme. The work focuses on creating the right regulatory settings to ensure we can efficiently build, maintain and operate generation and network infrastructure for NZ’s current and future energy needs. This includes work on offshore renewable energy legislation, resource management policy, and the regulation of network infrastructure. The team collaborates closely with agencies including the Ministry for the Environment, Te Waihanga, the Electricity Authority and the Commerce Commission.
Gas & Fuel Policy is responsible for the regulatory frameworks and markets that support the supply and distribution of gas and liquid fuels in NZ. This includes security of supply and ensuring market stability in the gas system, and ensuring fuel security into the future. The team works alongside agencies such as the Gas Industry Company and the Commerce Commission who are also regulators of part of the gas and fuel markets

About the Branch

We are responsible for the energy markets regulatory system. The energy system plays a significant role in creating a productive and sustainable economy. We make sure New Zealanders have secure, sustainable, and affordable energy to drive our economy and way of life.

​Our branch is a fun, collaborative, fast-paced and supportive environment, with established peer learning initiatives, policy fora and cross-team working, and lots of opportunities for engaging with stakeholders.

Our people are talented and unique. We work towards creating a workplace environment where you belong and that enables and allows you to do what you do best. We support diversity so that together we can do work that positively impacts the lives of all New Zealanders.

Salary Range:

Policy Advisor: $75,114 – $93,724

Senior Policy Advisor:  $110,098 - $138,028

Principal Policy Advisor: $132,417 - $160,472

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

We are looking for motivated people with strong analytical and critical thinking skills, experience with primary or secondary legislation, who are comfortable with ambiguity, and able to deliver results.
 
You will have the following skills and experience:
•    a good tertiary qualification 
•    knowledge of policy frameworks/principles/tools/approaches and experience in applying these to the analysis of policy issues and formulating high-quality policy advice
•    experience and knowledge of the energy sector is desirable, but not a requirement. Applicants with experience in energy sector regulation, distribution networks, or in legislative frameworks for resource management or health & safety, or in engineering, economics, quantitative analysis or innovation should highlight this in their application
•    ability to build requisite knowledge for different policy issues quickly drawing on information and evidence from multiple and diverse sources
•    excellent written and oral communication skills with an eye for detail
•    a collaborative approach to working with others and experience in working effectively with Ministers, public service officials, internal and external stakeholders
•    understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and application of these in public policy and in partnership with Māori

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 to view a position description.

Policy Advisor
Senior Policy Advisor
Principal Policy Advisor

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 Monica Chow at monica.chow2@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/17640 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday, 20 July 2025.

As we are advertising multiple positions, please indicate which role/roles you are keen to apply in your cover letter.