Senior Development Adviser

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 130,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade is seeking a Senior Development Adviser in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) to steer strategic evaluations and learning across the Pacific. You will lead major research initiatives, collaborate with external experts, and shape policy decisions through robust evidence.

Based in Wellington, the role requires experience in policy analysis, strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to drive performance measurement across complex

Qualifications

• Experience leading strategic policy analysis and advice using evidence to inform policy, investment and programme decisions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and leadership skills across complex environments.
• Understanding of Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead MERL's strategic evaluation and research work programme.
• Provide technical leadership and advice 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.

Skills

Strategic policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Evidence-based decision making

Job description

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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.

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 include:

• 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.

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

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

• 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.

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.

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 NewZealand’s interests and pursue NewZealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for NewZealand of what is happening in the world.

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.

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 usual 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. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process.

If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.