Senior Advisor

Ministry of Health; Wellington; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4.4 weeks annual leave

Wellness allowance after 12 months

Job summary

The Ministry of Health in Wellington seeks a Senior Advisor to provide high‑quality policy advice and strategic leadership across public health and mental health work programmes. You will lead complex initiatives, build influential relationships, and support better and more equitable health outcomes for New Zealanders.

You'll bring significant policy experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to advise Ministers and senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in policy, strategy, advisory roles within complex environments.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Proven experience leading complex projects or policy initiatives.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including providing clear advice to Ministers and senior leaders.
• Strong understanding of public sector decision‑making and machinery of government.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic policy advice, briefings and recommendations for Ministers and senior leaders.
• Manage significant projects and programmes aligned with organisational priorities.
• Build influential relationships across the Ministry, health sector and government.
• Coach and mentor staff, ensuring quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Skills

Policy development

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Project leadership

Communication

Job description

Wellington based | Permanent | Full-time 4.4 weeks annual leave | Wellness allowance after 12 months Midpoint of $108,452.00 dependent on experience

The Determinants of Health team sits within the Public Health Agency and Mental Health Group, supporting the Ministry’s work across public health and mental health. As a Senior Advisor, you’ll provide high-quality advice and leadership across key work programmes, using your strategic, analytical and subject matter expertise to help inform decision-making. You’ll lead complex initiatives, build influential relationships and work collaboratively across the Ministry and wider health system to support better and more equitable health outcomes for New Zealanders.

What you’ll do

• Lead strategic advice: Develop high-quality policy advice, briefings, strategies and recommendations for Ministers and senior leaders, providing clear analysis of complex issues, risks and opportunities.
• Lead complex work programmes: Deliver significant projects and initiatives aligned with organisational priorities, including developing monitoring, evaluation and reporting approaches.
• Build relationships and influence: Develop influential relationships across the Ministry, health sector and government, and represent the Ministry in cross-agency forums, consultations and stakeholder engagements.
• Strengthen capability and quality: Coach and mentor others, provide quality assurance of advice, and strengthen processes, tools and frameworks to support effective delivery and continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring

Ko ngā pūkenga ōu Significant experience in policy, strategy, advisory or related roles within complex environments. Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to develop evidence-based recommendations. Proven experience leading complex projects, work programmes or policy initiatives. Excellent communication and influencing skills, including providing clear advice to Ministers and senior leaders. Strong understanding of public sector decision‑making and machinery of government, with sound judgement and relationship‑management skills.

About the Ministry

As the Government's lead advisor on health, we help shape the future of New Zealand's health system through policy, regulation and monitoring. Join a team that makes a real difference to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders while working in a supportive, inclusive environment that values wellbeing, growth and development. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to an accessible and respectful recruitment process.

Our overarching goal is for all New Zealanders to live longer and in better health to have an improved quality of life. As steward, we set the direction across the health system so we and others can make informed decisions and prioritise resources accordingly. We advise the Government on health policy, and regulate and monitor the health system, to ensure all New Zealanders have access to health care for better health outcomes. Our role is to create an environment where all New Zealanders are supported to stay well and where all parts of the health system are supported to operate at their best.