Senior Policy Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Be at the forefront of significant reforms to enable and grow New Zealand’s biotech sector.
• Apply your expertise to complex issues in a high-performing, collaborative, and supportive team that provides opportunities needed to develop your career.
• Salary: $110,098 - $138,028, Wellington CBD, perm full time, +KiwiSaver +Wellness Benefits.

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

We are seeking a Senior Policy Advisor who is keen to put their policy or regulatory expertise to use on 'once in a generation' reforms to unlock our biotech sector. You will play a key role in delivering the team’s ambitious, high-priority, and challenging work programme to design and implement the new gene technology regulatory regime. The role will provide you the opportunity to build and enhance your skills in a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing team, within a branch delivering the Government’s wider science system reforms.  

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required
 

We are looking for motivated people with strong analytical and critical thinking skills, experience with primary or secondary legislation, who are comfortable with ambiguity, and able to deliver results.

We are keen to hear from you if you have:

• a good base of experience in public policy as a Senior Policy Advisor.
• knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes, and demonstrable experience in applying these to the analysis of policy issues and formulating high-quality policy advice.
• an ability to build requisite knowledge for different policy issues quickly by drawing on information and evidence from multiple and diverse sources.
• an ability to communicate complex issues clearly and coherently.
• a positive, can-do attitude and be flexible and adaptive to changes in requirements.

You must also be a New Zealand Citizen or permanent resident.

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 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/18624 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on 17th November 2025 at 11.59pm.