Principal Policy Advisor | Kaitātari Kaupapa Here Matua

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 114,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Government is seeking a senior policy professional to lead a large conservation policy work programme for the Department of Conservation in Wellington. You will help set direction, lead early analysis, and support cross-team collaboration during a priority-setting period for the incoming government.

You will coordinate with policy teams and senior leaders to deliver sound policy recommendations, coach staff, and adapt to evolving priorities across the directorate.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading complex and sensitive policy programmes and projects, requiring deep policy craft and/or technical expertise.
• Experience in managing legislative change is advantageous.
• Ability to see the big picture and provide sound policy recommendations.
• Ability to scope policy problems and propose meaningful outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Analysing and distilling early policy thinking on key matters across conservation, hunting and fishing priorities.
• Developing sharp, well-targeted initial advice or information briefings for Ministers or senior leadership.
• Providing leadership, direction setting and peer review for identified policy or legislative work.
• Coaching and advising policy teams to support commissioning and initiation of new policy projects.

Skills

Policy leadership

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Coaching junior staff

Cross-government collaboration

Policy project management

Job description

Provide thought leadership and help lead a large and complex policy work programme for conservation * $113,936.00 - $159,000.00 pro-rata * Fixed Term / Secondment : 6 months, Wellington location

Our vision : Nature is thriving in Aotearoa | Te Oranga o te Ao Tūroa Mō te tūranga | About the role A unique job at a critical time - this is about adding value across a busy and priority-setting period for DOC's Policy Directorate.

Reporting to the Hunting and Fishing Policy Manager, you will support this portfolio and flex to provide support to other identified issues across the range of policy work being undertaken across the Directorate. You will be able to hit the ground running and pivot as needed to help lead early analysis or set in motion ongoing work to support the emerging policy priorities for an incoming government. You will help the policy leadership team set direction, working in collaboration with policy teams and other relevant teams in DOC. The position will be focussed on :

• Analysing and distilling early policy thinking on key matters across a range of conservation, and hunting and fishing priorities
• Developing sharp, well targeted initial advice or information briefings for Ministers and / or the senior leadership team
• Providing leadership, direction setting and a peer review function for identified policy or legislative work projects
• Coaching and advising policy teams to support the commissioning and initiation of new policy projects, as needed
• Supporting the policy leadership team in planning and prioritising work across the directorate.

Skills and experience

Our ideal candidate will have an in depth of knowledge and proven experience understanding policy issues, analysis and providing recommendations. You are a strategic thinker who can see the big picture and thrive working in a complex setting on wide-ranging issues to come up with sound policy recommendations. You will be adept at asking insightful questions to help teams carefully scope and fully probe policy problems, considering a range of options to deliver meaningful outcomes. You will also bring your effective long-term policy project planning skills as well as your capacity to be agile and responsive to immediate changing priorities.

• Proven experience in leading complex and sensitive policy programmes and projects, requiring deep policy craft and / or technical expertise. Experience in managing legislative change will be a clear advantage
• Understanding of the strategic context, current policy agenda and priorities; views policy issues in the wider context and applies foresight and judgement to identify what is important for the policy area in the medium and long term
• Experience in providing authoritative and frank policy advice that recognises the choices and constraints Ministers face and anticipates needs
• Experience in a leadership role in a cross-Policy Unit and cross-government policy projects, setting a clear sense of direction and priorities to deliver across a number of policy projects
• Proven ability to build key collaborative relationships quickly across a range of individuals and teams - policy and operational - to support analysis with expertise, and 'bringing people with you'
• Experience in coaching junior staff to grow their policy skills and support them initiating and taking ownership of policy projects
• Expertise in the use of policy project management processes, with skill and experience to manage competing policy pressures and conflicts

If you have the following, we are keen to hear from you :

• Proven experience in leading complex and sensitive policy programmes and projects, requiring deep policy craft and / or technical expertise. Experience in managing legislative change will be a clear advantage
• Understanding of the strategic context, current policy agenda and priorities; views policy issues in the wider context and applies foresight and judgement to identify what is important for the policy area in the medium and long term
• Experience in providing authoritative and frank policy advice that recognises the choices and constraints Ministers face and anticipates needs
• Experience in a leadership role in a cross-Policy Unit and cross-government policy projects, setting a clear sense of direction and priorities to deliver across a number of policy projects
• Proven ability to build key collaborative relationships quickly across a range of individuals and teams - policy and operational - to support analysis with expertise, and 'bringing people with you'
• Experience in coaching junior staff to grow their policy skills and support them initiating and taking ownership of policy projects
• Expertise in the use of policy project management processes, with skill and experience to manage competing policy pressures and conflicts

What’s in it for you?

DOC is committed to a culture where everyone can participate, thrive, and grow. We're driven by our values and behaviours, and are working towards being an organisation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive by default. We also support flexible working arrangements for our kaimahi across Aotearoa, with options considered based on the role and in discussion with your leader.

Salary : $113,936.00 - $159,000.00, depending on skills and experience.

Eligibility

Eligibility : You must hold a valid NZ work visa that covers the duration of employment. (SECONDMENT ONLY)'You are encouraged to discuss secondment opportunities with your line manager. Secondments should support the development of skills and experience aligned with your development plan. You must seek support from your line manager before applying for a secondment. Approval from your one-up manager is also required before you can be released for a secondment opportunity.

Applications close

Rá whakakapi | Applications close at 11 : 59 pm on Monday 9 November 2026. This advert may close early, so please apply promptly.

Contact

For further enquiries, please contact Nicola Mollloy, [e-mail]