Senior Advisor Board Appointments and Governance

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Can you build strong networks/trusted relationships at the most senior organisational levels?
• Do you want to use your strong written skills and analytical thinking to support the future governance of New Zealand’s key organisations?
• Are you enthusiastic, curious and keen to take on interesting challenges?
• Lead pivotal board appointments, champion governance best practice, and build relationships that move the system forward.
• Salary $101,911 - $121,196, Wellington CBD, Permanent. Full time. KiwiSaver and Wellness Benefits.

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

As a Senior Advisor reporting to the Manager, Board Appointments and Governance, you will provide advice to ministers on appointments and governance for a portfolio of Crown companies, Crown entities and statutory boards.  This role allows you to support these organisations at the governance level.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading all aspects of board appointments and providing expert advice to Ministers.
• Leading and contributing to initiatives to provide best practice governance support to boards.
• Engaging with stakeholders and building effective and trusting internal/external relationships.

About the team:

MBIE relies on a diverse range of Crown entities, statutory boards and Crown companies to deliver on the Government's goals.  These entities include regulators, such as the Commerce Commission, delivery agents such as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, to the Crown Research Institutes (such as Geological Nuclear Sciences) who hold much of New Zealand's scientific capability.

The Board Appointments and Governance Team is responsible for managing board appointment processes and supporting the effective governance of these organisations.  We are looking for people who want to make a real difference in governance and contribute to improving economic outcomes for all.  

As part of the team responsible for board appointments and governance for a large number of Crown companies and entities, this role provides the opportunity to gain unique insights into the strategy and challenges faced by a variety of organisations, as well as their interaction and engagement with MBIE's policy teams and the relevant Ministers.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

To be considered for this role your CV and covering letter must demonstrate examples of where you have:

• Built trusting and effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated excellent written communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, engaging, and professional content.
• Shown strategic and analytical thinking to achieve the desired outcome.
• Demonstrated initiative, successfully navigating through ambiguity, triaging and solving problems.
• Responded to changes in priorities and demands for work and undertaken effective risk management.
• Worked in a fast-paced environment and managed competing priorities.

Desirable experience:

• You may have experience in an operationally focussed role, HR, recruitment and or talent acquisition.
• Experience working with board members, senior executives, managers, team members, staff in partner agencies and key external stakeholders including writing for Ministers.
• You may have knowledge and experience of board appointment processes and associated governance.
• Have an ability to interpret New Zealand public sector legislative and governance frameworks for Crown entities, Crown companies and statutory boards.

Applicants must have the 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 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 here to view a position description. When you are ready to apply please upload a tailored CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.

All applications must be submitted via our online process.

Email Jackie Johnson at jackie.johnson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19145 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on 17th March 2026 at 5pm.