Strategic Principal Advisor: Planning & Performance

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 118,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

New Zealand Government in Wellington seeks a Principal Advisor Planning and Performance to join the Planning, Risk and Assurance team. You will build trusted relationships with senior leaders, translate complex issues into practical actions, and influence outcomes without formal authority.

The role blends strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, including shaping approaches, developing plans, and producing high-quality reports. Flexible working is supported within a connected virtual team.

Qualifications

• Experience as a strategic advisor working across organisational boundaries.
• Ability to build trusted relationships quickly with diverse groups.
• Influences without relying on formal authority.
• Thinks strategically with a systems view and adapts to change.
• Collaborates effectively in a virtual, cross-functional team.
• Balances strategic advice with practical delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; clear reporting.
• Experience in planning, performance, reporting or organisational improvement is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice across planning and performance to senior leaders.
• Move between system-level thinking, high-level advice and hands-on delivery.
• Shape approaches, facilitate agreement and develop practical options.
• Develop plans, analyse performance information and produce quality reports.
• Work in a connected virtual team, building effective cross-location relationships.
• Adapt approaches as priorities change while maintaining delivery.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Influence without authority

Systems thinking

Ambiguity navigation

Virtual collaboration

Delivery focus

Clear communication

Resilience & judgement

Senior stakeholder briefing

Planning & performance experience

Job description

New Zealand Government in Wellington seeks a Principal Advisor Planning and Performance to join the Planning, Risk and Assurance team. You will build trusted relationships with senior leaders, translate complex issues into practical actions, and influence outcomes without formal authority.

The role blends strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, including shaping approaches, developing plans, and producing high-quality reports. Flexible working is supported within a connected virtual team.