Senior Policy Advisor | System & Markets Policy

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Contribute to major Building Act amendments and wider regulatory reform
• Work directly on live legislation alongside Ministers and senior leaders
• Fixed-term/secondment (July–October 2026) in a fast-paced, high-impact policy environment
• Role can be based in Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch
• Salary: $110,098 – $138,028, plus KiwiSaver

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

The System and Markets Policy team provides high-quality advice on the strategic direction of New Zealand’s building regulatory system. We focus on complex, system-level challenges and opportunities for reform.

Current priorities are reforming the structure of Building Consent Authorities and improving liability and insurance settings through significant amendments to the Building Act and developing associated Regulations.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and contribute to complex policy work in a fast-paced environment
• Deliver clear, high-quality advice to Ministers and senior leaders
• Support legislative processes, including Select Committee and Cabinet decisions
• Contribute to delivery of a Bill, including analysis of submissions, briefings, and policy development
• Work collaboratively across MBIE and with external stakeholders to shape practical, system-level reforms.
• We are a high-performing team of critical thinkers who tackle complex issues, challenge the status quo, and support each other to deliver at pace.

Why this role?

This is a great opportunity to:

• Work on high-profile legislative reform in the building system
• Gain exposure to Ministerial processes and Select Committee work
• Influence system-wide outcomes for New Zealand’s built environment
• Join a supportive, high-performing team with strong policy leadership

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

We are looking for a Senior Policy Advisor who can confidently lead work in a complex, fast-moving policy environment.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Experience leading complex policy projects, including delivering advice to Ministers
• Strong understanding of the policy process, including Cabinet (and ideally legislative or Select Committee processes)
• Ability to work through ambiguity and deliver high-quality outputs at pace
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and influencing skills
• Demonstrated ability to support and coach others to deliver high-quality policy work
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in public 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 ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki 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 kaupapa kua 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.

Please submit your application via our online process, including:

• A CV
• A cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role

Email Monica Chow at Monica.Chow2@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/19716 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Sunday, 5th July 2026, at 11:59pm.