Senior Advisor, Partnerships

Ministry for Pacific Peoples; Canterbury; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Family friendly policies

Job summary

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples in Canterbury seeks a Senior Advisor, Partnerships to lead relationships with communities, agencies and stakeholders, shaping policy and initiatives for better Pacific outcomes.

You will operate across strategic and delivery contexts, manage multiple tasks with tight deadlines, and translate community insights into commissioning discussions and decision making.

Qualifications

• Senior advisor with experience in public sector agencies.
• Ability to influence and connect across systems.
• Strong writing and communication skills for senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilitation of relationships with communities, agencies and stakeholders in the region.
• Influence and inform policy development and implementation to support strategic objectives.
• Deliver from day one and manage multiple pieces of work with tight deadlines.
• Capture insights from community feedback and translate into commissioning themes.
• Prepare memos and reports for senior leaders and providers with clarity.

Skills

Relationship management

Project management

Event management

Professional writing

Resilience & prioritisation

Job description

Build Pacific partnerships, turn community insights into advice, and support policies and projects that improve Pacific outcomes.

14th October, 2026

About the role:

The Senior Advisor, Partnerships is responsible for leading the facilitation of the Ministry’s relationships and collaboration with communities, agencies and stakeholders in the region. They help influence and inform the development and implementation of policy and initiatives that support the Ministry’s strategic direction.

This is a full-time fixed term role until May 2027.

About you:

You will bring strong experience working in other Public Sector agencies at a senior advisor level.

You will be comfortable operating across both strategic and delivery contexts, with the ability to influence, connect across systems, and make complex information meaningful for decision-makers.

You will bring:

• Strong relationship management skills – you'll be working closely with staff across the Ministry in Performance, Finance, Data & Insights, and the CE Office as well as directly with front facing staff in our regional offices.
• Project management approach – you'll be delivering from day one and managing multiple pieces of work with tight deadlines. Your methodical approach coupled with excellent communication skills will be necessary to keep everyone informed and deadlines met.
• Event Management & Engagement Support – you'll be taking notes and capturing insights quickly and be converting raw data from community feedback into themes that influence commissioning discussions and decision making.
• Proven professional writing skills – you'll prepare memos and reports for senior leaders and providers, making sure information is clear, accurate, and well presented
• Resilience, ability to juggle and prioritise, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

Why join us?

We're more than just a workplace; we're a community that cares about you. When you choose to work with us, you're choosing a career that offers not only health insurance and family friendly policies, but also a supportive environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. Whilst the work can be challenging, you will be rewarded by contributing to better outcomes for Pacific Peoples.

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!

Closing date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026

Please note: Applicants need to have a right to work in New Zealand with a valid visa.

https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/People-Culture/New-JD-links/Senior-Advisor-Partnerships.pdf