Principal Ministerial Services Advisor

New Zealand Government Joba; Wellington; On-site; NZD 118,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

MBIE in Wellington is seeking a senior specialist to provide expert advice and oversight across ministerial servicing. You will lead framework development, policy guidance, and training to ensure high-quality ministerial servicing practices, liaising with senior leaders to build capability and ensure quality outcomes.

You will drive continuous improvement, coach colleagues, and oversee responses to OIA and Privacy Act requests while strengthening stakeholder relationships across MBIE and wider

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of the Official Information Act and Ombudsman guidance.
• Strong understanding of government, Cabinet, and Parliamentary processes.
• Experience developing and implementing frameworks, policies, procedures, and operating models.
• Proven experience coaching, mentoring, and building capability in others.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on ministerial servicing matters, including OIA requests and Ombudsman complaints.
• Lead development and review of ministerial servicing frameworks, policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Design and deliver capability-building initiatives across the enterprise, including training and communities of practice.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, quality assurance, and technical support across MBIE.
• Lead and oversee responses to enterprise-wide OIA and Privacy Act requests.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across MBIE and the wider public sector.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve performance, quality, and consistency.

Skills

Policy development

OIA knowledge

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Coaching

Education

Tertiary qualification

Job description

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

Wellington Central Fixed Term until 24 June 2027 Pro Rata Salary 118,000 - 143,000

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

This is a senior specialist position responsible for providing expert advice and enterprise oversight across ministerial servicing activities. Reporting to the Manager, Strategy, Performance and Operations, you will lead the development of frameworks, policies, guidance, and training that support high-quality and consistent ministerial servicing practices across MBIE. You'll work closely with business groups and senior leaders to build capability, provide quality assurance, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and support the delivery of complex and high-profile Official Information Act (OIA), Privacy Act, and Parliamentary Question responses. This is an opportunity to influence ministry-wide practice, drive capability uplift, and contribute to the delivery of a trusted and high-performing Ministerial Services function.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing expert advice on complex ministerial servicing matters, including OIA requests and Ombudsman complaints.
• Leading the development and review of ministerial servicing frameworks, policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Designing and delivering capability-building initiatives, including enterprise-wide training and communities of practice.
• Providing coaching, mentoring, quality assurance, and technical support to colleagues across MBIE.
• Leading and overseeing responses to enterprise-wide OIA and Privacy Act requests.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders across MBIE and the wider public sector.
• Identifying and implementing opportunities to improve performance, quality, and consistency.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

• Expert knowledge of the Official Information Act and Ombudsman guidance.
• A strong understanding of government, Cabinet, and Parliamentary processes.
• Experience developing and implementing frameworks, policies, procedures, and operating models.
• Proven experience coaching, mentoring, and building capability in others.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills.
• Exceptional relationship management and influencing abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent practical experience.

Experience working in a Minister's Office or central agency would be advantageous.

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders. We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable. People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

Mahi Tahi - Better Together Māia- Bold and brave Pae Kahurangi - Build our Future Pono Me Te Tika - Own It Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity - Hīkina Whakatutuki - which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'. MBIE recognises the partnership founded under TeTiritio Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to TeTiritio Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā‑ohanga, ā‑pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapa kua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.