Senior Advisor

Ministry for Pacific Peoples; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

The Senior Advisor at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples provides strategic advice, coordinates across the Executive Office and ministerial teams, and ensures quality assurance for papers and outputs. You will support the Secretary for Pacific Peoples and senior leaders, helping to plan priorities and manage sensitive, time-critical work.

This role requires strong public service judgement, excellent written communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to build trust quickly across teams

Qualifications

• Experience in an advisory role, ideally in the public service, providing advice for senior decision-makers.

Responsibilities

• Support strategic advice and coordination across the Ministry and Minister's office.
• Peer review and quality assure briefing papers and products for senior leaders.
• Monitor inboxes and triage requests to ensure timely progression of matters.
• Contribute to projects and environmental scanning to inform sound decisions.

Skills

Advisory experience

Public sector knowledge

Written communication

Analytical capability

Stakeholder management

Judgement under ambiguity

Discretion

Job description

Support executive decision-making through strategic advice, coordination, quality assurance and analysis.

04th September, 2026

About the role

The Senior Advisor is a key member of the Executive Office, reporting to and working closely with the Chief Advisor to support the Secretary for Pacific Peoples and senior leaders across the Ministry. This is a varied role for an experienced advisor who can move confidently between strategic advice, coordination, quality assurance and day-to-day problem solving.

You will help the Executive Office plan and prioritise work, monitor and triage the CE Office inbox, commission papers and requests, and ensure important matters are directed and progressed appropriately. You will also peer review and quality assure products for the Secretary and the Minister, contribute to projects and initiatives, and undertake environmental scanning and analysis to support sound decisions.

The role works across the Ministry and with the Minister’s office, so you will need to build trust quickly, understand the wider context, and exercise sound judgement when handling sensitive or time-critical work.

About you

We are looking for an experienced Senior Advisor who combines strong public sector judgement with excellent written communication, practical coordination skills and a collaborative way of working. You will be comfortable operating with ambiguity, identifying what matters most, and helping others turn complex issues into clear advice and action.

You will bring:

• Experience in an advisory role, ideally in the New Zealand public service, including providing advice and peer review for senior decision-makers.
• A good understanding of the machinery of government and the context in which Ministers, chief executives and public service agencies operate.
• Strong critical thinking and judgement, including the ability to identify risks, prioritise competing demands and know when to escalation an issue.
• Excellent written communication and quality assurance skills, with the ability to make advice clear, concise, accurate and fit for purpose.
• Analytical capability, including environmental scanning and the ability to draw together information from different sources to support decisions.
• Strong relationship and collaboration skills, with the confidence to work across teams, follow up on commitments and constructively challenge when needed.
• Discretion and care when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• A strong commitment to public service and to improving outcomes for Pacific peoples, together with a willingness to strengthen your Pacific cultural capability.

Why join us?

At the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, you will contribute to work that supports better outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand, while working close to senior decision-making and gaining a broad view of the Ministry. You will join a supportive team, and we offer a family-friendly workplace, health insurance and opportunities to learn and develop.

Our organisation - Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP)

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is the government’s principal advisor on policies and interventions aimed at improving outcomes for Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Here at the Ministry, we believe in the power of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We're excited to embrace the unique perspectives and talents of our current and future team members, as they are the driving force behind our constant quest for innovation. Overall, we aim to achieve our strategic goals and make a positive impact that benefits our Pacific communities. E hiranga ana te wāhi ki a mātou, ki te tautoko i te Karauna i ana hononga ki ngā Iwi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. As Tangata te Tiriti, we have an important role in supporting the Government in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi and te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Our workplace culture is all about creating an environment where everyone feels involved, respected, and connected to the Pacific communities we serve in New Zealand. We are guided by Pacific values: Ola fetufaaki (Reciprocity), Tāpuakiga (Spirituality), Soalaupule (Consensus), Piri’anga (Collectivism), Fakalilifu (Respect), Magafaoa (Family), and Aro’a (Love). This isn't just good for our fantastic employees; it's a win-win for our Pacific People too. Come join us in building a brighter future together!