Senior Advisor Employment Relations

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Deliver employment relations expertise that truly makes a difference
• Permanent, fulltime position with flexibility on location in a main centre (Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland)
• Salary $118,390 - $143,639 + KiwiSaver + Employee Wellness Benefit

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

At MBIE, our people are at the heart of our mahi. We’re looking for a confident and experienced Senior Advisor Employment Relations to help us build constructive, people centred, and sustainable ER outcomes across a large and diverse organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a role where no two days are the same- from resolving complex ER issues, to coaching people leaders, to influencing MBIE wide employment practices.

As a Senior Advisor Employment Relations, you will play a key role in delivering high quality ER advice, insights and support to MBIE people leaders and the wider People & Culture branch.

In this role, you will:

• Manage and resolve complex employment relations cases, including investigations, mediations and escalated issues
• Provide strategic and practical ER advice, supporting leaders to handle issues confidently and proactively
• Coach and develop ER Advisors and people leaders to embed a leader led, people centred approach
• Build strong relationships with unions and contribute to collective bargaining and working groups
• Lead and contribute to ER policy, guidance and training development
• Support business wide projects with ER expertise and ensure compliance with legislative requirements
• Provide reporting, analysis and insights on ER trends, OIA requests and privacy matters

You will work across a wide range of stakeholders and business groups, navigating complexity with confidence and professionalism.

If you’re someone who enjoys variety, problem solving, and working closely with leaders to create positive outcomes, we want to hear from you.

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

We’re looking for someone with a strong background in employment relations and the confidence to provide trusted expertise in a large, complex environment.

You will bring:

• Proven experience managing ER cases, including settlements, investigations and mediation
• Experience supporting ER strategy, collective bargaining and union engagement
• Strong communication skills and the ability to engage credibly with leaders and stakeholders
• The ability to coach others and build capability in a constructive, people centred way
• Strong analytical, problem solving and planning skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple pieces of work in a fast paced environment
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its relevance to people practices
• A tertiary qualification in Law, HR, or equivalent experience
• 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:

If you’re ready to use your ER expertise to support better outcomes for our people and leaders- and contribute to shaping MBIE’s employment relations landscape-  we’d love to hear from you.

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.

Email Jess Dalbeth at Jess.Dalbeth@mbie.govt.nz if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Wednesday 25 March 2026 (midnight)