Senior Development Adviser

CGR Services; Wellington; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in Wellington seeks a Senior Development Adviser for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL). Fixed-term to June 2027, you will lead MERL’s evaluation and research portfolio across the Pacific, providing technical guidance and shaping performance measurement standards.

You will engage with colleagues and partners to drive accountability, organisational learning, and development effectiveness, aligning policy and investment decisions with

Qualifications

• Graduate qualification in international relations, development studies, economics, finance or public policy.
• Experience in international development policy, programme design, evaluation or research.
• Experience leading policy analysis and using evidence to inform policy, investment and programme decisions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership across complex environments.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti/Māori concepts would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead MERL's strategic evaluation and research work programme.
• Provide technical leadership on monitoring, evaluation, research and learning across the IDC Programme.
• Develop and strengthen MERL standards, frameworks and approaches to performance measurement.
• Represent MFAT in relevant domestic and international forums and engagements.
• Generate and promote evidence and insights to support policy, programme and investment decisions.
• Refer to the position description for more detail.

Skills

MERL leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Evidence-informed decision making

Cross-cultural collaboration

Education

Graduate qualification in IR, development studies, economics, finance or public policy

Job description

The Ministry acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for New Zealanders. Kia hangai ake e te Manatu he ao-haumaru, ao-tonui, ao-pumau, ki te oranga tonutanga mo Aotearoa whanui.

Senior Development Adviser - Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)

• Strengthen development outcomes across the Pacific
• Lead strategic research and evaluation initiatives
• Help shape policy and investment decisions through evidence-based insights
• Fixed-term opportunity based in Wellington until June 2027

Join a team at the centre of New Zealand's International Development Cooperation Programme, leading the use of evidence and learning to drive better development outcomes across the Pacific and beyond.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

The Development Policy and Performance Division (DPP) sits at the centre of New Zealand's International Development Cooperation (IDC) Programme, providing the strategic insight, evidence, standards and assurance needed to support a high-performing development programme. As the Senior Development Adviser, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL), you will provide technical leadership and strategic oversight of evaluation, research and learning activities across the Pacific and Development Group. Working closely with colleagues, external experts and development partners, you will lead a programme of strategic evaluations and research that strengthens accountability, organisational learning and development effectiveness.

Key responsibilities

• Leading MERL's strategic evaluation and research work programme.
• Providing technical leadership and advice on monitoring, evaluation, research and learning across the IDC Programme.
• Developing and strengthening MERL standards, frameworks and approaches to performance measurement.
• Representing MFAT in relevant domestic and international forums and engagements.
• Generating and promoting evidence and insights to support policy, programme and investment decisions.
• For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here.

The salary range for this role is $129,965 to $152,900 total remuneration, inclusive of our 3% KiwiSaver employer contribution.

Who are we looking for? - Mā wai te mahi nei?

We’d like to hear from you if you are an experienced professional with the following skills and experience:

• A relevant graduate qualification (e.g. international relations, development studies, economics, finance, public policy)
• Experience in international development policy, programme design, evaluation and/or research.
• Experience leading strategic policy analysis and advice, using evidence to inform policy, investment and programme decisions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and leadership skills, with the ability to build capability and work effectively across complex environments.
• Understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial.

Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere?

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission. Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here.

MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world.

Eligibility and requirements

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen, or Permanent Resident. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Confidential clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at 9pm on Sunday 27th September 2026.

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role. This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a Specialist role) based in central Wellington, NZ. While it is not unusual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates.