Principal Strategic Advisor - ISG

Police; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 128,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Police seeks a Principal Strategic Advisor within the International Service Group (ISG) to shape strategic direction at the intersection of policing, international engagement and development.

You will lead analysis and advise senior leaders on complex issues, build business cases, and work with government partners to strengthen NZ police's international security and development outcomes. The role requires strategic thinking, governance support, and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Holds a relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & planning: Lead and develop strategies, governance frameworks, and funding bids for international functions.
• Strategic advisory: Provide expert strategic advice to ISG leadership and police leaders on international policing issues.
• International engagement: Build strong relationships across Police, government, and international partners.
• Mentoring and leadership: Mentor fellow advisors within the ISG team.

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent professional experience

Job description

Career Opportunities: Principal Strategic Advisor - ISG (6060824)

Requisition ID6060824-Posted29/09/2026-Wellington-Permanent FT

• Based at Police National Headquarters, Wellington
• Grade 21
• Police Employee
• Permanent – Full Time
• NAV
• JR 6060824

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The International Service Group (ISG) is looking for an experienced strategic thinker to join its team. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of Police’s security, international engagement, and development operations.

As a Principal Strategic Advisor, you will provide strategic leadership, analysis, and advice on complex and emerging issues affecting New Zealand Police's international operating environment. You will help shape strategic priorities, support governance, and decision-making, identify future risks and opportunities, and lead the development of business cases and strategic initiatives that strengthen Police's contribution to international security and development outcomes. Working closely with senior leaders, government agencies, and international partners, you will help ensure Police is well-positioned to respond to an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Key Accountabilities:

• Strategy & planning: Lead and develop strategies, policies, governance frameworks, and funding bids that support Police’s international functions and initiatives.
• Strategic advisory: Provide expert strategic advice and guidance to ISG leadership and other Police leaders on appropriate police services that respond to international policing issues.
• International engagement: Build strong relationships across Police, government, and international partners.
• Mentoring and leadership: Provide mentoring and advice to other advisors within the International Strategy & Planning team.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you’ll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours,your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

Specifically, you will:

• Demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking and the ability to analyse complex information and identify implications, risks, and opportunities.
• Communicate with confidence and influence, producing clear, concise, and high-quality advice for senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships across organisations, sectors, and cultures.
• Have experience supporting the development and delivery of strategies, programmes, or policy initiatives using strategic and analytical frameworks.
• Bring an understanding of New Zealand's public sector, international engagement, security, foreign policy, or law enforcement environment, or the ability to rapidly develop this knowledge.
• Hold a relevant tertiary qualification or have equivalent professional experience.
• The position holder may be required to travel internationally to support the delivery of functions and activities.

This role is Individual Contributor/Emerging Leader level. You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements

To be eligible for this role, you must obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET national security clearance.

The minimum criteria for this level of national security clearance is:

NZ Citizen who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or:

• A Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or
• A citizen of or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last 10 years: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, or United States of America, and has a background that can be verified by the NZSIS.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process:

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government’s largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you’ll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.

Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Wednesday 1 4th October.

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence at $142,124 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

Please note: If you are an internal applicant, you must apply internally through the police system. You must provide an alternative contact email address and state your future commitments should you be successful in the next stage of the recruitment process.