Principal Analyst, Policy

Ministry for Pacific Peoples; Wellington; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare insurance

Subsidised eye care

Three additional annual leave days

Job summary

Ministry for Pacific Peoples seeks a Principal Analyst Policy to lead complex policy work and deliver high-quality advice that improves outcomes for Pacific peoples. You will guide policy across the work programme, identifying issues, developing options, and shaping government responses.

You will provide leadership, quality assurance, and mentoring to policy staff to strengthen capability. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record in policy analysis, strong NZ policy process knowledge,

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering high-quality policy analysis and advice
• Significant experience leading policy projects
• Strong understanding of New Zealand policy process and decision-making
• Ability to identify emerging policy issues and provide strategic advice
• Quality-assurance skills for clear, concise policy advice
• Experience providing leadership and coaching policy staff
• Strong relationship and stakeholder-management with government agencies
• Ability to provide trusted advice to senior leaders and Ministers' offices
• Commitment to working with and for Pacific peoples

Responsibilities

• Lead complex and strategic policy work and provide high-quality advice
• Lead strategic policy work across the Ministry’s programme, identify issues and develop options
• Shape effective responses across government
• Provide leadership and quality assurance across policy projects and agencies
• Coach and mentor policy staff to strengthen policy capability

Skills

Policy analysis

Policy leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic advisory

Coaching & mentoring

NZ policy process knowledge

Ministry collaboration

Education

Public policy/public administration

Tertiary qualification

Job description

Lead strategic policy work that improves outcomes for Pacific Peoples.

29th September, 2026

About the role

As a Principal Analyst Policy, you will lead complex and strategic policy work and provide high-quality advice that supports better outcomes for Pacific peoples.

You will lead strategic policy work across the Ministry’s work programme, identifying emerging issues, developing options and recommendations, and shaping effective responses across government.

You will provide leadership and quality assurance across policy project, senior leaders and public sector agencies, and coach and mentor policy staff to strengthen the Ministry’s policy capability.

What you’ll bring

Here at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, we value a diverse range of talents and backgrounds.

Our ideal candidate will bring:

• A proven track record of delivering high-quality policy analysis and advice
• Significant experience working in policy and leading complex policy projects.
• Strong understanding of the New Zealand policy process, machinery of government and government decision‑making.
• The ability to identify emerging policy issues and provide strategic advice on options, risks and opportunities.
• Strong quality‑assurance skills and the ability to support clear, concise and robust policy advice.
• Experience providing intellectual and professional leadership, including coaching and mentoring policy practitioners.
• Strong relationship and stakeholder‑management skills, with established networks across government and the ability to work effectively across agencies.
• The ability to provide trusted advice to senior leaders, Ministers’ offices and other senior stakeholders.
• A demonstrated commitment to working with and for Pacific peoples, including an understanding of Pacific perspectives and the ability to build credibility with Pacific communities.
• A relevant tertiary qualification, ideally in public policy, politics, international relations, economics, law or a related discipline.

About the role

As a Principal Analyst Policy, you will lead complex and strategic policy work and provide high-quality advice that supports better outcomes for Pacific peoples.

You will lead strategic policy work across the Ministry’s work programme, identifying emerging issues, developing options and recommendations, and shaping effective responses across government.

You will provide leadership and quality assurance across policy project, senior leaders and public sector agencies, and coach and mentor policy staff to strengthen the Ministry’s policy capability.

What you’ll bring

Here at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, we value a diverse range of talents and backgrounds.

Our ideal candidate will bring:

• A proven track record of delivering high-quality policy analysis and advice
• Significant experience working in policy and leading complex policy projects.
• Strong understanding of the New Zealand policy process, machinery of government and government decision‑making.
• The ability to identify emerging policy issues and provide strategic advice on options, risks and opportunities.
• Strong quality‑assurance skills and the ability to support clear, concise and robust policy advice.
• Experience providing intellectual and professional leadership, including coaching and mentoring policy practitioners.
• Strong relationship and stakeholder‑management skills, with established networks across government and the ability to work effectively across agencies.
• The ability to provide trusted advice to senior leaders, Ministers’ offices and other senior stakeholders.
• A demonstrated commitment to working with and for Pacific peoples, including an understanding of Pacific perspectives and the ability to build credibility with Pacific communities.
• A relevant tertiary qualification, ideally in public policy, politics, international relations, economics, law or a related discipline.

Why join us?

We offer a supportive, inclusive workplace where you can grow professionally, protect your wellbeing and contribute to meaningful work.

We offer attractive employment benefits including:

• Healthcare insurance
• Subsidised eye care
• Three additional annual leave days between Christmas and New Year

The work is challenging and varied, with the opportunity to provide policy advice on issues that matter for Pacific peoples and to contribute to better outcomes across government and for all New Zealand. A thriving and prosperous Pacific community brings benefits for all Aotearoa.

Our Organisation – Ministry for Pacific Peoples

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is the Crown’s principal advisor on policies and interventions aimed at improving outcomes for Pacific peoples in New Zealand. We bring Pacific voice, perspective and understanding into policy and government decision‑making.

Our Policy team provides robust, strategic, evidence‑based Pacific policy advice and analysis to Ministers and other agencies and supports the development of effective strategies and programmes aimed at improving short-, medium- and long-term outcomes for Pacific communities.

Our workplace culture is focused on creating an environment where everyone feels involved, respected and connected to the Pacific communities we serve. We are guided by Pacific values: Ola fetufaaki (Reciprocity), Tapuakiga (Spirituality), Soalaupule (Consensus), Piri’anga (Collectivism), Fakalilifu (Respect), Magafaoa (Family), and Aro’a (Love).

As Tangata te Tiriti, we also have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi and te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The role is a full‑time fixed term role until the end of June 2027.

This role fits within our salary range of$110,376 - $165,564 per annum.

Closing date: 5pm, Tuesday 13 October 2026

Please note:

Applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand with a valid visa.