Senior Advisor Planning and Performance

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Career development and learning

Collaborative work environment

5 weeks annual leave

Income protection and critical illness

Employee benefits and wellbeing

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi seeks a Senior Advisor Planning and Performance to support leaders in planning, prioritising and coordinating work across the Driving Regulation system. You will clarify priorities, strengthen delivery disciplines and provide practical, timely advice to enable informed decisions and better regulatory outcomes.

You will collaborate with operational teams and stakeholders, interpreting performance data to guide planning, risk management and delivery momentum in a

Qualifications

• Experience providing high-quality regulatory or government advice.
• Strong planning and prioritisation skills to translate priorities into practical work plans.
• Ability to coordinate work across multiple teams and programmes.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including governance material.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic and regulatory priorities into clear, coordinated work plans for delivery across teams.
• Provide practical advice on priorities, sequencing, dependencies, risks and trade-offs to support decision-making.
• Coordinate planning and workflow across teams to maintain focus on key work items.
• Prepare clear advice, briefings and recommendations for leaders, governance groups and operational teams.
• Bring people and information together across teams to resolve issues and support joined-up delivery.
• Monitor progress against plans and identify where decisions or reprioritisation may be needed.
• Facilitate planning discussions that lead to decisions, actions and accountabilities.
• Improve planning tools, frameworks and processes to support delivery and ease of use.
• Support governance, committee, forum, Ministerial, OIA and reporting requirements.

Skills

High-quality advisory

Planning & prioritisation

Cross-team coordination

Risk assessment

Decision support

Facilitation skills

Written and verbal communication

Performance interpretation

Judgement & initiative

Regulatory systems

Job description

• Newly created Senior Advisor role in the Driving Regulation system
• Make a meaningful impact on regulatory performance and delivery across New Zealand’s land transport system
• Use your advisory, planning and coordination skills to help leaders prioritise and deliver the right work at the right time.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Advisor Planning and Performance to join our Planning, Performance & Improvement function in the Driving Regulation system. This role is focused on supporting leaders and teams to plan, prioritise and coordinate work, make well-informed decisions, and maintain a clear view of delivery, risks and emerging issues.If you enjoy working through complexity, providing practical advice and helping teams turn priorities into coordinated plans and action, this role offers the chance to do work with real purpose. You will work closely with operational teams, leaders and stakeholders to clarify priorities, support decision‑making, strengthen delivery disciplines and help shape better regulatory outcomes for New Zealanders.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Support leaders and teams to translate strategic and regulatory priorities into clear, coordinated work plans.
• Provide practical advice on priorities, sequencing, dependencies, risks and trade‑offs to support decision‑making.
• Coordinate planning and workflow across teams, helping maintain focus on the most important work.
• Prepare clear advice, briefings and recommendations for leaders, governance groups and operational teams.
• Bring people and information together across teams to resolve issues and support joined‑up delivery.
• Monitor progress against plans and identify where decisions, intervention or reprioritisation may be needed.
• Facilitate planning and prioritisation discussions that lead to clear decisions, actions and accountabilities.
• Improve planning tools, frameworks and processes so they support effective delivery and are easy to apply.
• Support governance, committee, forum, Ministerial, OIA and reporting requirements.

You can find out more about the role in the position description here

Ko koe tēnei | About you

We are looking for someone who brings curiosity, sound judgement, and strong advisory skills. You'll be comfortable working with a wide range of data, people, and complex or ambiguous situations bringing structure to competing priorities.While this is not a Data Analyst role, you will have the ability to interpret information, identify insights, and translate these into clear, practical advice that supports decision‑making, planning the work and helping teams deliver effectively.

You Will Bring

• Experience providing high‑quality advice in a regulatory, government or complex operational environment.
• Strong planning and prioritisation skills, including the ability to turn broad priorities into practical work plans.
• Experience coordinating work across multiple teams, functions or work programmes.
• The ability to assess competing priorities, risks, dependencies and trade‑offs and provide clear recommendations.
• Experience supporting leaders and teams to make decisions, resolve issues and maintain delivery momentum.
• Strong relationship and facilitation skills, with the confidence to bring people together and work constructively across organisational boundaries.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing advice, briefings, decision papers and governance material.
• The ability to interpret performance information and use it to inform advice, planning and action.
• Good judgement, initiative and a practical approach to navigating ambiguity and solving problems.
• Working knowledge of project, programme or portfolio planning approaches would be useful.
• A good understanding of regulatory systems, government processes or complex operational environments.

This role would suit an experienced advisor who enjoys helping leaders and teams make good decisions, establish clear priorities and turn complex work into practical, coordinated plans.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in the public sector.

Mō mātou | About UsTe Rōpū Waeture | Regulatory

As the lead regulator for land transport, our purpose is to ensure the system is safe, effective, efficient and operates in the public interest. Safety is our top priority, and we are committed to reducing harm by being a firm and fair regulator, grounded in good regulatory practice and Te Ao Māori principles. We take a system view, focusing on outcomes, encouraging and educating where appropriate, and enforcing compliance when necessary.

Regulatory Planning, Performance & Improvement

Our Regulatory Planning, Performance & Improvement function plays an important role in helping the regulatory system operate well. We provide sub‑system oversight, planning, performance monitoring and improvement support so regulatory teams can focus on core delivery while having the insight, tools and support they need to make good decisions and improve outcomes.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

At NZTA, you will be part of work that matters to people, communities and the transport system across Aotearoa New Zealand. This role offers variety, purpose and the opportunity to build strong relationships while contributing to better planning, performance and improvement across a complex national regulatory system.

Along With a Competitive Salary Package, We Offer

• Flexible working arrangements (role dependent).
• Career development and learning opportunities.
• A collaborative and supportive work environment.
• 5 weeks annual leave.
• Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for permanent employees.
• Access to a range of employee benefits and wellbeing initiatives.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

15 November 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.