Senior Policy Advisor

The Johnson Group; Wellington; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johnson Group is seeking an experienced policy professional in Wellington to lead complex policy projects and develop high-quality advice for Ministers. You will engage across agencies and partners, ensuring the voices of families and whānau inform policy development, with a focus on equitable outcomes for Māori and diverse communities.

Join a small, supportive policy team and apply rigorous analysis, stakeholder engagement, and practical, implementable recommendations to improve community

Qualifications

• Experience delivering high-quality policy advice in a fast-moving, central government setting.
• Develops concise, robust policy products and briefings.
• Ability to navigate Cabinet, Parliamentary and legislative processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex policy projects from problem definition to recommendations and implementation.
• Develop clear policy advice for Ministers and senior decision-makers.
• Prepare high-quality policy products, including briefs and Cabinet advice.
• Contribute to legislative and cross-government work programmes.
• Engage with iwi, Māori organisations, government agencies and partners.
• Incorporate voices of families and whānau into policy development.
• Consider implications for Māori, Pacific peoples and disabled people.
• Apply evidence and a range of analytical approaches to options.
• Coach and support less experienced policy colleagues.

Skills

Central government policy experience

Analytical thinking

Written and verbal communication

Cabinet/Parliamentary processes

Stakeholder engagement

Te Tiriti Waitangi understanding

Population/system lens

Project management

Collaborative approach

Agility/resilience

Education

Tertiary qualification or equivalent

Job description

The Johnson Group – Wellington Central, North Island

Make a meaningful difference for communities and families

Are you an experienced policy professional looking for work where your skills can make a genuine difference?

This is an opportunity to join a small, supportive policy team working on complex and important issues affecting the community, families and whānau.

You’ll have the opportunity to lead significant policy projects, develop high-quality advice for Ministers and senior leaders, contribute to legislative processes and work across agencies and with a diverse range of partners.

About the opportunity

Our client is a government agency with a strong focus on improving outcomes for community, families and whānau. The policy team provides advice on complex issues and with an ambitious programme of work underway, this is an exciting time to join the team. You’ll be working on issues of real significance, including responding to emerging challenges across the care and protection system and supporting wider system improvement.

The role will see you:

• Lead complex policy projects from problem definition and analysis through to recommendations and implementation.
• Develop clear, robust and compelling policy advice for Ministers and senior decision-makers.
• Prepare high-quality policy products, including briefings and advice for Cabinet and senior officials.
• Contribute to legislative and cross-government work programmes.
• Engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including iwi and Māori organisations, government agencies, community organisations and other partners.
• Bring the voices and experiences of families and whānau into policy development.
• Consider the implications of policy proposals for Māori, Pacific peoples and disabled people.
• Apply evidence, data, research and a range of analytical approaches to identify practical, fit-for-purpose options.
• Coach and support less experienced policy colleagues and contribute to building capability across the team.

You’ll be joining a collegial and supportive policy environment where you’ll have access to coaching and development while being trusted to take ownership of significant pieces of work. The team is small enough that your contribution will be visible, and there is scope to broaden your experience across different policy areas.

About you

We’re looking for an experienced policy professional who can operate confidently in a complex government environment and bring sound judgement to challenging issues.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Strong central government policy experience, with a demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality advice in a fast-moving environment.
• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information and identify the key issues and options.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tell a compelling story and tailor advice to your audience.
• Experience working through Cabinet, Parliamentary and/or legislative processes.
• The ability to provide robust, objective and free and frank advice, while understanding the political and strategic context in which policy advice is developed.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, particularly when working across agencies and with Māori and other communities.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the ability to incorporate Māori perspectives and mātauranga Māori appropriately into policy work.
• The ability to consider policy through different population and system lenses and understand the implications for diverse communities.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, risks, timelines and deliverables.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to coach and support others.
• Agility, resilience and the confidence to adapt your thinking as circumstances and priorities change.
• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.

You’ll be someone who is curious, thoughtful and solutions-focused, with the ability to work through ambiguity and complexity without losing sight of the people and communities affected by the decisions being made.