Senior Policy Advisor

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor in the Innovation Policy team. You will shape policies, institutions and investments that support a thriving innovation ecosystem across New Zealand.

You will lead workstreams, advise Ministers and collaborate with government, industry and research sectors to drive economic growth and wellbeing. The role involves working on high-profile policy issues, shaping settings for innovation, and lifting team

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing high-quality policy advice on complex issues in a government or related environment.
• Knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes, and demonstrable experience applying these to policy analysis and high-quality advice.
• Ability to quickly build knowledge for different policy issues from diverse sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to explain complex issues clearly.
• Strong relationship management and engagement skills across teams, agencies and stakeholders.
• Positive, can-do attitude; flexible and adaptable to changing requirements.
• New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality policy advice on complex issues across government and related environments.
• Lead pieces of work and advise Ministers and senior leaders.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across government, industry and research sectors.
• Help lift the capability of others within the Innovation Policy team.

Skills

Policy advisory

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Verbal communication

Cross-agency collaboration

New Zealand policy knowledge

Job description

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Work on complex and high-profile policy issues that influence New Zealand's science, innovation and technology system.
• Help shape the policies, institutions and investments that support innovation, commercialisation and long-term economic growth.
• Apply your expertise to complex issues in a high-performing, collaborative, and supportive team that provides opportunities needed to develop your career.
• Permanent role – Wellington (preferred) or Auckland
• Salary: $110,098 - $138,028 + KiwiSaver + Wellness Benefits.

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga

New Zealand's future prosperity will depend on our ability to generate, adopt and commercialise new ideas.

As a Senior Policy Advisor in the Innovation Policy team, you will help shape the policies, institutions and investments that support innovation across the economy. Our work spans the innovation system from research and technology through to commercialisation, business growth and productivity.

You will work on complex and high-profile policy issues that influence how government supports innovative firms, strengthens New Zealand's innovation ecosystem, and enables emerging opportunities to contribute to economic growth and wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to apply strategic thinking to some of New Zealand's most challenging and future-focused policy questions. You will lead pieces of work, provide advice to Ministers and senior leaders, work closely with stakeholders across government, industry and the research sector, and help lift the capability of others within the team.

Current and emerging areas of work include:

• Supporting the Government's ambitions for science, innovation and technology
• Improving pathways from research and innovation to commercial impact
• Advising on grants, incentives and other innovation support mechanisms
• Identifying opportunities to strengthen New Zealand's innovation ecosystem
• Understanding how emerging technologies and global trends may affect New Zealand's future economic performance

We are seeking a Senior Policy Advisor keen to put their policy expertise to use on complex and high-profile issues across New Zealand's science, innovation and technology system, helping shape the settings that support innovation, commercialisation and long-term economic growth.

The Innovation Policy team helps shape how New Zealand turns ideas into impact. Sitting at the intersection of science, technology, business and economic growth, we advise on the policies, institutions and investments that support innovation across the economy. This includes advice on research and development, innovation grants and support mechanisms, commercialisation pathways, and opportunities to strengthen New Zealand's innovation ecosystem so that researchers, entrepreneurs and innovative firms can succeed.

Skills and Experience Required - Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana

• Demonstrated experience providing high-quality policy advice on complex issues in a government or related environment.
• Knowledge of policy development disciplines and processes, and demonstrable experience in applying these to the analysis of policy issues and formulating high-quality policy advice.
• An ability to build requisite knowledge for different policy issues quickly by drawing on information and evidence from multiple and diverse sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly to a range of audiences.
• Strong relationship management and engagement skills, including experience working collaboratively across teams, agencies and stakeholder groups.
• A positive, can-do attitude and is flexible and adaptive to changes in requirements.
• You must also be a New Zealand Citizen or permanent resident.

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

Applications close 7 September 2026