Senior Policy Advisor

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, development, and supporting your work-life balance.
• Permanent, Full time | Wellington Central
• Salary range $110,098- $138,028 + Kiwisaver & Wellness benefits

We are seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to join the Immigration (Border and Funding) Policy within the Employment Skills and Immigration Policy branch.

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

Our Senior Policy Advisors work on complex and high-profile government policy projects.  They apply their policy expertise to deliver results for New Zealand. They use their strong communication and influencing skills to engage and work collaboratively with various groups. They have great knowledge of policy frameworks and processes, Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, and a strong understanding of the wider political environment to better position New Zealand for the future.

About the Employment Skills and Immigration Policy branch:
 

The Employment Skills and Immigration Policy branch 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. 

You’ll be part of a team filled with smart and committed policy professionals with excellent policy skills and knowledge. We have a positive and engaging work environment in which you can thrive while addressing some of the tricky policy issues that impact New Zealand’s businesses and workers.  

Given the unique nature of our systems, you will enjoy working collaboratively. You’ll be up for delivering a full and interesting work programme that attracts significant attention.  

We are focused on developing our people and with the wide variety of work across the branch there are often opportunities to work with other teams on projects that will help you grow and build your experience and achieve your career goals.

The branch sits within the Labour, Science and Enterprise Group at MBIE where connections are made to how immigration settings can align with and support labour market, skill development, economic and industry policy. 

About the Immigration (Border and Funding) Policy team:
 
The Immigration (Border and Funding) Policy team provides advice on the system setting for Immigration. This includes the legislation, funding, and the border.  We also work on visa settings for investor migrants. 

We are currently working on the following projects: 
 

• Reviews of the Immigration Act 2009 – an amendment bill was introduced to the House on 7 April 
• Visa pathways for investor migrants to support the Government’s economic growth objectives 
• Developing an approach to support MBIE’s stewardship of the immigration system, with a focus on financial management 
   

The Border and Funding team works alongside two other Immigration Policy teams (Skills and Residence, International and Humanitarian) and the three teams regularly come together to share ideas and discuss key topics. All team members have opportunities to engage with Ministers s senior officials, internal and external stakeholders. 

You will be joining a high-performing, friendly and supportive team.  There are plenty of opportunities to lead, coach and develop your policy craft.

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
• Passion for 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/17927 if you have any further questions.

Applications close: 10th August 2025