Senior Policy Advisor| Technical Barriers to Trade

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Exciting opportunity in the Trade and International Supply Chains team
• Work in a team that operates at the juncture of international and domestic policy
• Help shape outcomes that improve opportunities for New Zealand businesses and consumers
• Wellington CBD | Flexible working 
• Salary range: $110,098 - $138,028 plus KiwiSaver and wellness benefits 

Tēnei tūranga - About the Role:

The Trade Facilitation Team is looking for a highly skilled and experienced Senior Policy Advisor to lead our Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) work programme. You will be challenged while given the opportunity to significantly shape and implement strategies to identify, address and resolve TBT to international trade, ensuring efficient market access for good and services. 

The Senior Policy Advisor will collaborate with government agencies, stakeholders and international bodies to influence policy decisions and to drive trade facilitation initiatives. 

Other key elements of the role include:

• Strengthening and coordinating MBIE’s relationships with domestic regulators, government agencies and businesses that have an interest in TBT issues
• Ensuring New Zealand’s policy and regulatory settings across a wide range of areas account for our international TBT obligations
• Supporting and at times leading aspects of the team’s work on Standards and Conformance issues, particularly where these influence our approach to TBT matters
• Supporting or leading the negotiation of TBT chapters in New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and the implementation of these free trade deals by participating in TBT Committees and associated projects
• Leading New Zealand’s multilateral engagement at the World Trade Organisation TBT Committee, particularly as it relates to TBT policy issues

This is an interesting time to be working on international issues and to join a team participating in a wider NZ Inc effort to help support NZ’s international connections.

About the team:

The Trade Facilitation team is responsible for ensuring that policies and regulations do not unnecessarily create barriers to trade, both domestically and internationally. This is done through helping to ensure government policy in New Zealand is consistent with our international trade obligations under the WTO TBT Agreement, and engaging bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally to help shape TBT policy and rules. The Trade Facilitation team is also responsible for the Standards and Conformance system as well as New Zealand’s tariff policy. We work closely with other agencies, particularly MFAT and MPI.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills and Experience Required

•    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 range 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 

This role will report to the Team Leader – Trade Facilitation and is based in our Wellington office.

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. 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 Monica Chow at monica.chow2@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/16968 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Tuesday, 8th April 2025.