Policy Advisor Level 1 and 2

Ministry of Justice - New Zealand; Wellington; On-site; NZD 67,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4.4 weeks annual leave

Flexible work hours

Online professional development portal

Inclusive networks

Job summary

Ministry of Justice - New Zealand is seeking permanent Policy Advisors at Level 1 and Level 2 to join the Policy Group in Wellington. You will contribute to policy and legislation across the criminal justice system and engage with the interface between government, social policy and the law.

Level 1 suits early career; Level 2 suits 12–18 months' experience and leadership capability. Join a team that supports professional development, offers real influence over policy that affects New Zealanders,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (minimum) or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Ability to produce accurate written work to a high standard.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to policy and legislation across the criminal justice system.
• Support the interface between government, social policy, and the law.
• Assist in shaping the framework that regulates relationships between citizens and the state.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

Policy Advisors Level 1 & 2 - Wellington, Permanent

National Office – Wellington

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.

Success is not the work of one, but the work of many.

Te Haeata/The Opportunity

We're looking for permanent Policy Advisors to join our Policy Group at both Level 1 and Level 2, contributing to policy and legislation across the criminal justice system, the interface between government, social policy and the law, and the framework that regulates relationships between citizens and the state.

• Level 1 suits those early in their policy career, working alongside more experienced practitioners to build core analytical and advisory skills.
• Level 2 suits those with around 12 to 18 months' experience in a policy-focused role (or clearly transferable experience), ready to lead work of low to medium complexity and support more junior colleagues.

Each level has its own position description, with the specific experience and qualifications required. Please check the position descriptions to see which best matches your experience before applying.

What's On Offer

• Real influence over policy that affects the lives of New Zealanders
• A focused, meaningful piece of work within one of our policy teams
• Support from experienced policy professionals as you get up to speed, at whichever level you join

Ō Pūkenga/Skills And Experience

You’ll bring a tertiary qualification (Bachelor's minimum) or equivalent knowledge and experience, and the ability to produce accurate written work to a high standard. The level of policy experience, independence, and leadership expected differs between Level 1 and Level 2, so please refer to the relevant position description for full detail.

Mō Mātou/About Us

At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.

Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here

Benefits

We offer you a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be. These include:

• 4.4 weeks annual leave (perm)
• flexible work hours where possible
• an online professional development portal
• access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks

See our full range of benefits here.

With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The appointing salary will depend on the level and role, based on skills and experience. For Level 1 the range is $67,066 to $85,567 and at Level 2 $85,562 to $109,862.

Applications close on 30 August 2026; however, we will review CVs as they come in and may invite successful candidates to interview before the close date.

If you have any questions, please contact [e-mail]