Senior Policy Advisor
Wellington, NZ, 6011
Discover a career with purpose at MBIE
- Lead advice on the immigration settings that will help shape New Zealand’s economy and society now and, in the future
- Work constructively with passionate people, sector representatives, and communities
- Drive change that impacts on New Zealanders and prospective migrants and refugees
- Permanent full-time role | Wellington Central
- Salary range Senior Policy Advisor: $110,098 - $138,028 p.a. + KiwiSaver & Wellness Benefits
- Salary range Policy Advisor: $75,114 - $93,724 p.a. + KiwiSaver & Wellness Benefits
We have multiple Senior Policy Advisor & Policy Advisor vacancies across two of our Immigration Policy teams – the International & Humanitarian team and the Skills & Residence team. (Please indicate which position you are applying for and your preference for a team on your application noting each application will be considered for roles in both teams).
Tēnei tūranga - About the Roles:
You will work closely with your team to support a high performing branch that is also a great place to work.
Our Policy Advisor and Senior Policy Advisors play a leading role advising how Immigration settings can support New Zealand’s economic, labour market, international and humanitarian objectives and societal goals. This includes supporting the attraction of the skills New Zealand needs and enabling families to settle in New Zealand. You will need to work closely with stakeholders including employers, education providers and refugee and migrant communities and advocates.
Our Policy Advisors and 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 legislative 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.
You will be joining a collaborative and supportive team in a busy and high-profile policy area. Some of our people work part-time and/or work flexibly, and we are open to those options.
Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required
We are looking for motivated people with experience in solving complex problems and formulating high-quality policy advice for a range of stakeholders and projects.
Ideally you will have:
- A good base of experience in public policy as a Policy Advisor or Senior Policy Advisor and/or your application demonstrates that you have relevant transferrable skills from an advisory, legal or similar role
- Be able to work through ambiguity and deliver results
- A good understanding of economic principles and the New Zealand economy (this is not a prerequisite but would be advantageous for your application).
Policy Advisors will have:
- Understanding of the machinery of government and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Be a critical thinker, problem solver and have a healthy level of curiosity
- Bring knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes
- Enjoy working on complex problems, generating ideas and coming up with solutions
- Build relationships with others and work collaboratively.
Senior Policy Advisors will have:
- Experience leading complex policy projects within central government
- Understand Te Tiriti o Waitangi and have applied it in public policy
- Have wide ranging knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes
- Build strong stakeholder relationships, using influencing and engagement skills to gain the cooperation and commitment of others
- Have demonstrated capability in working with Ministers, senior public service officials, internal and external stakeholders
- Have passion for leading and coaching others to develop their policy craft and take their careers to the next level.
About the International & Humanitarian Immigration Policy Team:
The International & Humanitarian Immigration Policy team provides advice on immigration policies related to:
- refugee and humanitarian settings, including the Refugee Quota programme and responses to humanitarian emergencies
- international engagement, multilateral for a (UN, OECD etc), bilateral engagement, and trade negotiations
- international education
- Pacific migration settings, including the Recognised Seasonal Employer Policy, and
- national security settings.
About the Skills & Residence Immigration Policy Team:
The Skills & Residence Immigration Policy team provides advice on the immigration rules about who can live and work in New Zealand temporarily and permanently. This includes advice on the settings for work, residence and family (partnership, parents and child) visas.
Our work programme includes projects such as:
- Reviewing the settings for the main temporary work visa – the Accredited Employer Work Visa
- Reviewing skilled residence pathways, including the Skilled Migrant Category and the Green List, to ensure they are attracting the skills that New Zealand’s labour market needs
- Advice on other key Government commitments and priority areas including immigration settings for parents, partners and children, and
- Supporting Immigration New Zealand to continue to refine its regulatory and processing methods.
These two teams work alongside one other Immigration Policy team (Border and Funding) and all contribute to broader regulatory stewardship and strategic advice across the immigration system. All team members have opportunities to engage with Ministers, industry, and communities. The work programmes across the three teams are flexible and calibrated according to the Government’s key priorities.
The teams also work closely with Immigration New Zealand to ensure that operational considerations are part of policy analysis, and that there is policy oversight of how policies are being implemented.
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 domain 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.
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 on the links below to view the position descriptions.
All applications must be submitted via our online process and include a Cover Letter and CV outlining your interest and suitability for the role.
Email Roxana Anderson at Roxana.Anderson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/18946 if you have any further questions.
Applications close on 18th February 2026, at 11:59pm.