Lead Advisor – Rail Safety Regulation

Jobtailor; Wellington; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Rail Safety Regulation in New Zealand seeks a senior advisor to lead strategic regulatory initiatives and oversight of rail safety outcomes.

You will develop business plans and executive papers, engage with NZTA and industry partners, and translate policy priorities into practical regulatory frameworks.

This role requires governance experience, strong stakeholder skills, and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in public service.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior advisory, regulatory, public sector, transport, safety, or related leadership role
• Strong understanding of regulatory systems, governance, and policy frameworks
• Proven ability to develop strategic advice, business cases, governance papers, and executive-level reports
• Demonstrated experience leading complex programmes, projects, or cross-functional initiatives
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and systems-thinking capability
• Experience influencing decision-making and working effectively with senior leaders
• Experience within the transport, rail, infrastructure, safety, or regulatory sectors would be ideal
• Knowledge of performance monitoring, risk management, and regulatory assurance would be ideal
• Knowledge of, or willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori
• Knowledge of, or willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public service
• Legal right to live and work in New Zealand
• CV and cover letter detailing suitability for the role

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives that improve regulatory performance and rail safety outcomes
• Develop and monitor business plans, performance measures, and reporting frameworks
• Provide trusted advice and prepare executive papers, business cases, and strategic reports
• Represent Rail Safety Regulation in internal and external forums, governance groups, and industry engagements
• Work across regulatory systems to support consistent, risk-based regulatory practice
• Build partnerships across NZTA, government agencies, rail operators, and industry bodies
• Translate legislative, policy, and government priorities into practical regulatory frameworks and operational guidance
• Support continuous improvement and capability development across the regulatory function
• Help oversee and continuously improve the rail regulatory system
• Work with NZTA, government agencies, rail operators, and industry stakeholders to ensure regulatory activities are evidence-based, risk-informed, and aligned with NZTA's strategic direction

Skills

Regulatory Systems

Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Advice

Performance Monitoring

Risk Management

Job description

• Lead strategic initiatives that improve regulatory performance and rail safety outcomes
  
• Develop and monitor business plans, performance measures, and reporting frameworks
  
• Provide trusted advice and prepare executive papers, business cases, and strategic reports
  
• Represent Rail Safety Regulation in internal and external forums, governance groups, and industry engagements
  
• Work across regulatory systems to support consistent, risk-based regulatory practice
  
• Build partnerships across NZTA, government agencies, rail operators, and industry bodies
  
• Translate legislative, policy, and government priorities into practical regulatory frameworks and operational guidance
  
• Support continuous improvement and capability development across the regulatory function
  
• Help oversee and continuously improve the rail regulatory system
  
• Work with NZTA, government agencies, rail operators, and industry stakeholders to ensure regulatory activities are evidence-based, risk-informed, and aligned with NZTA's strategic direction
  

Requirements

• Significant experience in a senior advisory, regulatory, public sector, transport, safety, or related leadership role
  
• Strong understanding of regulatory systems, governance, and policy frameworks
  
• Proven ability to develop strategic advice, business cases, governance papers, and executive-level reports
  
• Demonstrated experience leading complex programmes, projects, or cross-functional initiatives
  
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and systems-thinking capability
  
• Experience influencing decision-making and working effectively with senior leaders
  
• Experience within the transport, rail, infrastructure, safety, or regulatory sectors would be ideal
  
• Knowledge of performance monitoring, risk management, and regulatory assurance would be ideal
  
• Knowledge of, or willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori
  
• Knowledge of, or willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public service
  
• Legal right to live and work in New Zealand
  
• CV and cover letter detailing suitability for the role
  

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in regulatory systems, governance, and policy frameworks, with a strong ability to develop strategic advice and executive-level reports. Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and leading complex initiatives within the transport and rail sectors.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Regulatory Systems Expertise
  
• Stakeholder Engagement
  
• Strategic Advice Development
  
• Performance Monitoring
  
• Risk Management
  

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Regulatory Framework Development
  
• Business Case Preparation
  
• Governance Paper Writing
  
• Performance Measure Monitoring
  
• Analytical Problem-Solving
  

Soft Skills

• Relationship Management
  
• Influencing Decision-Making
  
• Systems Thinking
  

Industry Keywords

• Transport Sector
  
• Rail Safety
  
• Public Sector
  
• Regulatory Assurance
  
• Te Ao Māori
  
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi