Lead Adviser Technical Facilities

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) seeks a senior facilities management specialist to provide technical leadership across facilities management, building services, operational resilience and critical infrastructure for a global portfolio of 350+ properties.

Reporting to the Portfolio Manager, you will guide asset lifecycle planning, maintenance strategy and supplier performance across posts and service providers.

Qualifications

• You're a recognised technical leader who can provide direction on complex facilities management challenges, influence decision-making and improve asset outcomes across a globally dispersed portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Set technical direction across the global portfolio.
• Strengthen asset resilience and performance.
• Influence complex asset outcomes.

Job description

The Ministry acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for New Zealanders. Kia hangai ake e te Manatu he ao-haumaru, ao-tonui, ao-pumau, ki te oranga tonutanga mo Aotearoa whanui.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

This is MFAT's most senior facilities management specialist, providing technical leadership across facilities management, building services, operational resilience and critical infrastructure for a global network of more than 350 properties. Reporting to the Portfolio Manager, you will provide technical direction across facilities management practice, maintenance planning, asset lifecycle management and supplier performance. Success in this role will depend on your ability to balance operational requirements, technical risk and long-term asset performance while influencing across a diverse range of stakeholders. Working closely with Property Managers, Contract Managers, Capital Programme teams, Posts and specialist service providers, you will provide expert advice on some of the portfolio's most complex facilities management demands. While you may not always be the technical expert in every discipline, you will know how to bring together and influence highly specialised advisors, consultants and contractors to achieve the right outcomes for the Ministry. Through this leadership, you will strengthen organisational capability and drive consistently high standards across the global network. This is a rare opportunity to combine technical expertise, strategic influence and global impact, helping protect and enhance the assets that support New Zealand's international presence around the world.

• Set technical direction across the global portfolio
• Strengthen asset resilience and performance
• Influence complex asset outcomes
• Wellington based, permanent full time Lead technical direction across a diverse global property portfolio, helping ensure MFAT's assets remain safe, resilient and high performing.

The salary range for this role is $129,965 to midpoint $152,900 total remuneration, inclusive of our KiwiSaver employer contribution. We expect to appoint depending on your level of skills and experience. For further details you can click on the position description here.

Who are we looking for? - Mā wai te mahi nei?

You're a recognised technical leader who can provide direction on complex facilities management challenges, influence decision-making and improve asset outcomes across a globally dispersed portfolio. You bring:

• Significant experience in facilities management, building services, asset management or property operations across complex environments.
• Deep expertise in asset lifecycle planning, maintenance strategy, operational resilience and critical building systems.
• Experience providing strategic technical advice on complex facilities management, asset performance operational risk issues.
• Strong commercial capability, including supplier performance management and service delivery oversight.
• Exceptional relationship management and influencing skills, with a track record of building capability and promoting best practice across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial.

Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere?

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission. Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here. MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world.

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Top Secret clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at midnight on Friday, 6 October 2026.

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role. This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here is a specialist role based in central Wellington, NZ. While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates.