Senior Advisor Compliance

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 106,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remuneration package with progression

Flexible work options

Training and professional development

Commitment to wellbeing and diversity

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children is seeking a Senior Advisor Compliance to help build organisational compliance capability and ensure legislative obligations are understood and embedded in practice. This is a rare opportunity to shape a new role and influence thinking across the organisation.

You will translate legislation into practical guidance, partner with Legal, Risk and operational leaders, and strengthen governance frameworks to support better outcomes for tamariki and whānau.

Qualifications

• Experience working with legislation, regulations, standards or organisational policy frameworks.
• Strong judgement and the ability to interpret complex requirements and apply them pragmatically.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with credibility to influence and challenge constructively.
• Experience developing or implementing policies, frameworks, controls or governance mechanisms.
• Ability to work across organisational boundaries and bring people together around solutions.
• Experience identifying, assessing and communicating risks.

Responsibilities

• Translate legislation and policy into practical guidance for teams.
• Partner with senior leaders and Legal, Risk and Governance to strengthen compliance maturity.
• Design and implement governance frameworks and controls.
• Support monitoring, reporting and assurance activities.
• Provide coaching and guidance to improve compliance culture across the organisation.
• Contribute to development and implementation of corporate policies and standards.

Skills

Legislation application

Policy translation

Risk awareness

Relationship building

Communication

Job description

Help Shape How Compliance Works Across Oranga Tamariki

A newly created role with organisation-wide influence

• Newly established permanent position
• Wellington-based
• Opportunity to build and shape a growing compliance function
• Work alongside senior leaders, operational teams, legal experts and risk professionals

At Oranga Tamariki, Compliance Isn't About Ticking Boxes.

It's about helping our people understand what matters, navigate complexity with confidence, and make decisions that support better outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and wh$?family=Ă.

We're looking for a Senior Advisor Compliance to help build our organisational compliance capability and ensure legislative, regulatory and corporate policy obligations are understood, embedded and workable in practice.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a new role, influence organisational thinking, and help define what good compliance looks like across one of New Zealand's most important public service organisations.

Mŋŋ mŋŋtŋ | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is 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 ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hap$;u, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mŋŋ te tŏuŋ | About the role

This is not your typical compliance role.

You'll be part translator, part trusted advisor, part problem solver.

You'll help connect legislation, regulation, policy and operational practice, ensuring our people understand not only what obligations exist, but how to meet them in ways that are practical, sustainable and meaningful.

You'll partner closely with leaders across the organisation and have strong working relationships with our National Office Legal team and Chief Legal Officer. You'll also work alongside specialists across Risk, Assurance, Governance and Operations to strengthen compliance maturity across Oranga Tamariki.

No two days will be quite the same.

One day you might be helping leaders understand the implications of new legislative requirements. The next, you could be reviewing policy controls, designing practical guidance, analysing emerging compliance risks, or supporting organisational improvement initiatives.

You'll play a key role in:

• Championing a positive, proactive compliance culture across the organisation.
• Helping teams understand and apply legislative, regulatory and policy obligations.
• Translating complex requirements into practical, easy-to-use guidance.
• Strengthening compliance frameworks, systems and governance processes.
• Identifying emerging compliance risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting compliance monitoring, reporting and assurance activities.
• Partnering with Legal, Risk and operational leaders to address issues and drive sustainable solutions.
• Building capability through coaching, advice, training and engagement.
• Contributing to the development, review and implementation of corporate policies and standards.

Most importantly, you'll help create confidence that our people can do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons.

Hybrid working arrangements – office based in Wellington with flexible WFH options. Due to the operational requirements and dynamic nature of the role, it will be beneficial for you to have the close support of the team around you. Candidates for this role are required to already be based in the Wellington region or be willing to relocate to the Wellington region for this opportunity.

If you're a credible compliance professional who can bring legislation to life, build trusted relationships, and embed practical solutions that make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Ngặ poumanawatanga īs | What you will bring

We're less interested in whether you've followed a traditional compliance career path and more interested in your ability to navigate complexity, influence others and turn requirements into action.

You may come from a background in:

• Compliance
• Legal practice
• Regulatory environments
• Risk management
• Internal audit and assurance
• Governance
• Public policy
• The New Zealand Public Service

To be successful, you'll bring:

• Experience working with legislation, regulations, standards or organisational policy frameworks.
• Strong judgement and the ability to interpret complex requirements and apply them pragmatically.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and the credibility to influence and challenge constructively.
• Experience developing or implementing policies, frameworks, controls or governance mechanisms.
• The ability to work across organisational boundaries and bring people together around solutions.
• Experience identifying, assessing and communicating risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Curiosity, initiative and a continuous improvement mindset.
• An understanding of, or willingness to deepen your knowledge of, tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti principles in a public sector context.

Nŋŋ te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offers a step-based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $106,416 and $117,782 dependent on experience.

We also offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

Applications for this role close at midnight on 30th September 2026

We may begin reviewing applications and inviting candidates to interview prior to the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.

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 our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.