Senior Policy Advisor (Skills and Employment Policy)
Wellington, NZ, 6011
Discover a career with purpose at MBIE
- Challenging and intellectually stimulating work to make a real difference for New Zealanders and the New Zealand labour market
- Be part of a supportive team that is committed to growth and development
- Permanent, Full time | Wellington Central
- Salary range $110,098- $138,028 + KiwiSaver and Wellness Benefits
Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:
We are looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to join the Skills and Employment Policy team. We advise on how labour market policy can better meet the changing needs of workers and firms.
Our work is a mix of strategic policy, developing initiatives for Ministers and working with others in MBIE and wider government to lift the performance of the labour market. You will have the opportunity to:
- be curious in sharpening our understanding of the labour market
- use your systems thinking and influencing skills to bring new solutions to entrenched problems
- develop your skillset for navigating ambiguity
- work to senior leaders on important issues
- help junior colleagues hone their policy skills
About the team:
The functioning of the labour market plays a key role in improving social and economic outcomes in New Zealand.
The Skills and Employment Policy team advises the Minister for Social Development and Employment on lifting labour market performance for workers and firms. We take a broad view of the labour market and help Ministers and senior officials keep focussed on the big stuff. And we work constructively with other teams and agencies on policy to address those things.
We sit within the Employment, Skills and Immigration Policy branch, which leads the government’s advice on labour market issues. We work with a range of government and non-Government stakeholders to facilitate good labour market outcomes from a set of regulatory and non-regulatory systems.
Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required:
We are looking for motivated people with experience in problem solving complex problems and formulating high-quality policy advice for a range of stakeholders and projects.
Ideally you will have:
- Experience leading complex policy projects within central government
- Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and application of these in public policy and in partnership with Māori
- Wide ranging knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes
- Strong stakeholder relationship building, influencing and engagement skills to gain the cooperation and commitment of others
- Demonstrated capability in working with Ministers, senior public service officials, internal and external stakeholders
- Commitment to leading and coaching others to develop their policy craft and take their careers to the next level
- The ability to work through ambiguity and deliver results
You may be a seasoned policy professional looking for that next challenge or ready to take your next step into a Senior Policy Advisor role – we'd love to hear from you!
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 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 Roxana Anderson at roxana.anderson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19089 if you have any further questions.
Applications close on Sunday, 1st March 2026