Advisor, Public Sector Performance

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 81,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Public Service Commission in Wellington is seeking an Advisor in the Public Sector Performance Group to provide high quality advice and analysis that sets direction and drives public sector performance. You will hold agency portfolios and advise senior leaders, including the Public Service Commissioner, on performance delivery and improvement across agencies.

You will work with Central Agencies to ensure Ministers receive timely insights and interventions, helping to build capability across

Qualifications

• Capable and motivated individual with strong analytical skills.
• Ability to deliver high-quality advice in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable building trusted relationships and synthesising complex information.
• Experience advising senior leaders is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality advice and analysis to set direction and drive the performance of the public sector.
• Hold a portfolio of agencies and advise senior leaders on the performance of chief executives and their agencies.
• Collaborate with Central Agencies to support Ministers with insights and interventions.
• Support the capability development of Crown entities, boards and monitoring agencies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Policy analysis

Strong written and verbal沟通

Job description

Advisor, Public Sector Performance

Location: Wellington.

Contract: Permanent.

The Public Service Commission leads the public sector to make a positive difference for New Zealand and New Zealanders. The Public Sector Performance Group drives public sector performance and supports the exercise of statutory responsibilities for chief executive recruitment, remuneration and development. The Group also advises Crown entities, boards and monitoring agencies on governance and monitoring best practice. The Group has a critical role in ensuring the Public Sector is high performing and delivering results for New Zealanders.

About the role

Want to help shape the future of New Zealand's Public Service? Join us at the centre of government and make a real impact on how agencies deliver for New Zealanders. As an Advisor in the Public Sector Performance Group, you will provide high quality advice and analysis to set the direction and drive the performance of the public sector. You will hold a portfolio of agencies and provide advice to senior leaders, including the Public Service Commissioner, Deputy Public Service Commissioner, and Assistant Commissioners, on the performance of chief executives and their agencies. You'll work on priority issues and programmes that drive delivery and results for New Zealanders. Our focus is on ensuring we take a real-time, outcomes focused approach to drive delivery and performance through Public Service Chief Executives and agencies.

Enabling a strong Central Agency approach to driving public sector performance is a key foundation for how we work. You will work closely with our Central Agency partners to ensure senior leaders and Ministers are well supported with the insights and interventions to actively drive Public Sector performance. You will also help build the capability and performance of Crown entities, boards and monitoring agencies to deliver a high performing Public Service.

The opportunities you will get in this role include:

• enabling active, real-time assessments on the effectiveness of agencies in delivering their core services and Government priorities, and advising Ministers on interventions to accelerate delivery


• shape the performance of public service leaders through facilitating annual chief executive expectation-setting and performance review processes


• supporting the delivery of Performance Improvement Reviews that shape strategic direction and build the capability agencies need to meet current and future priorities


• working with Central Agencies to provide Ministers with advice on the delivery and performance of public service agencies, including supporting the delivery of the Government's targets and implementation of performance plans


• engaging with crown entity boards, chairs and monitoring agencies to drive the capability and performance of crown entities delivering critical public services


• working with cross commission teams in other areas led by the commission, including machinery of government, workforce and integrity matters

What we are looking for

We're looking for a capable and motivated individual who is passionate about supporting a high‑performing and effective public service. You'll bring strong analytical skills, sound judgement, and the ability to deliver high‑quality advice in a fast‑paced environment. To succeed in this role, you'll need to be confident working with others at all levels, including senior leaders. You'll be skilled at building trusted relationships, synthesising complex information, and contributing to work that drives delivery and results. A proactive, outcomes‑focused mindset and the ability to work across multiple priorities will be key to your success.

Important Information

We believe in a diverse and inclusive public service which reflects the communities that we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. We welcome every gender, ethnicity, ability, religion, age, and background and encourage people to be their authentic selves at work. Talk to us about what flexible work arrangements might work for both you and us.

Remuneration

The full range for the band is $81,380 to 107,932. We typically look to appoint to the role between $81,380 to 99,804, depending on skills and experience.

Requirements

• To be appointed to this position, you must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance you must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, your application may not be able to be progressed.


• Use this online tool (process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool) to self‑check your eligibility for a clearance. Please note that this tool is indicative only, and initiation of a formal security clearance will be undertaken prior to any appointment.


• If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you must hold current eligibility to work in New Zealand and for Te Kawa Mataaho. Please refer to the New Zealand Immigration Service for further information.

Job ad opened for applications on 1 September 2026. Please submit your application by or on 15 September 2026.