Principal Policy Advisor - Legislation and Regulatory Policy

Oranga Tamariki; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Wellbeing support

Professional development

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki in Wellington seeks a Principal Policy Advisor to drive significant legislative and regulatory change and to develop high-quality policy advice that improves outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi.

You will work across the policy group, collaborating with frontline teams and stakeholders to advance the policy agenda while upholding the organisation's commitments to rangatahi wellbeing. This permanent, full-time role offers flexible work options and strong professional development.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading development of complex policy advice in legislative/regulatory contexts.
• Deep knowledge of legislative and machinery of government processes.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to significant, complex legislative and regulatory change.
• Apply policy skills to gnarly issues that matter for children and young people.
• Build relationships with Māori, Pacific and disability communities to shape policy.

Skills

Policy leadership

Legislation knowledge

Machinery of government

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Coaching and mentoring

Māori engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline

Job description

Principal Policy Advisor - Legislation and Regulatory Policy

Principal Policy Advisor - Legislative and Regulatory

• Lead and contribute to significant, complex legislative and regulatory change
• Exercise your policy skills working on gnarly issues that matter for children and young people
• Work in a vibrant and supportive team, with flexible work options and a genuine commitment to your wellbeing
• Permanent, full time opportunity based in Wellington

Please note: Due to the upcoming holiday period, we anticipate that the successful candidate will commence in the role in late January 2027, subject to notice periods and onboarding arrangements.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Policy work at Oranga Tamariki is wide and varied, giving you ample opportunity to develop your career pathway and demonstrate your policy craft. We are the only policy groupwithin a large operational organisation, whichgives you greater exposure to a wide range of workthat has a major impact on the frontline. Our policy group spans operational, system enabling policy, legislative and regulatory policy, and strategic, cross-government policy programmes.

We havean ambitious legislativeand policywork programme across the youth justice and care and protection system.

Collaboration is central to who we are. We listen to children, young people, families, and whānau, and work with key partners, including Māori, Pacific and disability communities, to shape evidence-based, impactful policy.We work closely with our data and insights teams and thoseworking on the frontline, so your advice is steeped in realism.Great teamwork is how we operate.

OrangaTamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to puttingtamarikiandrangatahiat the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim todemonstratethese values:

• We putTamarikifirst
• We believeArohais vital
• We respect theManaof people
• We areTikaand Pono
• We valueWhakapapa
• We recognise thatOrangais a journey

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuringOrangaTamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to findappropriate solutionsfortamarikiin need.

Key requirements of this Principal Policy Advisor role include:

• Extensive experience leading the development of complex policy advice, particularly in a legislative or regulatory context
• A deep knowledge of legislative and machinery of government processes is essential
• Expert analytical, critical policy thinking and communication skills and ability to produce quality policy work quickly
• Build genuine and enduring relationships with influence in multiple settings to advance the policy agenda
• Lead and coach others, while being a compassionate and collaborative team member
• Understanding the circumstances and issues facing Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled and other key populations we work with
• Be enthusiastic with a can-do attitude
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline
• Wellington-based at the National Office

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offerscompetitive salaries andprogression annually for experience through tenure. The midpoint of this salary band is $162,887. We work flexibly and have genuine support for wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and work respectfully. This is your opportunity to apply your skills to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

Applications for this role close just before midnight on Sunday 22 November 2026.

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for ourkaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.

Closes on 22 Nov 2026 23:55

Location(s) Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Paraparaumu, Wellington