Senior Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Influence regulatory compliance and licensing outcomes across multiple sectors.
• Join a collaborative team working in a dynamic and evolving regulatory environment
• Wellington based, permanent position 
• Salary range: $101,911-$121,196 + KiwiSaver + Wellness Benefits

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Senior Advisor to make a meaningful contribution to occupational regulation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Working across a diverse portfolio of licensing and registration schemes, you will help shape effective regulatory practice that supports public safety, builds consumer confidence, and strengthens industry integrity.

Occupational Regulation is a cross-sector team responsible for several occupational licensing and registration schemes, currently including Electrical Workers, Licensed Building Practitioners, Immigration Advisers, Motor Vehicle Traders, Auctioneers, and Pool Inspectors. As the regulatory landscape evolves, other schemes may move into or out of the portfolio.

As Senior Advisor, Occupational Regulation, you will provide trusted strategic and tactical advice, thought leadership, and regulatory expertise. You will bring insight, judgement, and practical problem-solving to support high-quality decision-making and help deliver strong outcomes across regulatory compliance and licensing functions.

Working closely with the Occupational Regulation Leadership Team, you will support the development, implementation, and communication of strategic priorities and work programmes. You will also help lead responses to complex regulatory challenges, legislative changes, and emerging risks across the sectors we regulate.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

• Experience in regulatory compliance, ideally within an occupational regulation environment.
• Understanding of occupational licensing legislation, regulations, and regulatory systems.
• Demonstrated experience in at least two sectors, including an understanding of their technical aspects.
• The ability to quickly build knowledge and credibility across new sectors.
• Strong understanding of regulatory risk and the operational impacts of law reform.
• Exceptional relationship management, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legislation and technical information into plain English.
• Proven experience providing advice to senior leaders and executives.
• Strong strategic thinking, critical analysis, and problem-solving capability.
• Experience navigating ambiguity and operating effectively in complex and dynamic environments.
• A high degree of political awareness and a strong understanding of government processes and decision-making.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand

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/19912 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday 16 August 2026.