Senior Advisor – Operational Policy
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Advisor, Operational Policy will bring their systems and strategic thinking to the Resource Markets branch. They will be responsible for identifying opportunities for the development of the regulatory systems we support, by working collaboratively with the key players in each system (including stakeholders, end users, and Treaty partners).
The Senior Advisor, Operational Policy works as a connector point between policy teams, operational teams and regulatory system participants. It acts both as a translator between policy and operations, and leads the process in driving, operationalising and delivering change using a variety of policy and service design techniques with an emphasis on human-centred approaches that recognise the importance of people engagement (co-design/service design).
The Senior Advisor, Operational Policy will lead:
- work to assess the feasibility of policy and technical changes being made to the regulatory system.
- projects to implement policy and/or technical changes being made to the regulatory system.
- the development of implementation material required to successfully implement change, including operational policy, processes procedures and guidance.
- the implementation of projects occurring to the project plans, key milestones and/or budget expectations.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. social sciences, economics, public policy, law)
- Experience in one or more of the following: development of policy, interpretation and application of legislation, and operational policy functions
- In-depth knowledge of regulatory management best practice, systems thinking and regulatory stewardship concepts
- Experience in the translation of legislation and regulation.
- Demonstrated general problem identification and solution skills and ability to develop robust solutions that are viable for government, technically possible and desirable for users and the community
- Demonstrated knowledge of effective service delivery models and service excellence principles
- Demonstrated experience making connections across operational areas, regulatory systems, and between project and operational teams.
- Able to draw on broad knowledge to critically assess information from a wide variety of sources and identify implications for analysis and advice.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills: demonstrated competence in effectively communicating complex ideas both orally and in writing to a wide variety of audiences
- Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and relationship management skills
- Knowledge of public sector requirements and processes relating to financial and budgetary requirements, legislation and regulatory change
- Ability to identify and appropriately manage risks and issues.
- Ability/willingness to coach and mentor others
- Must be a NZ citizen or hold a residence class visa
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Critical areas of success
Development of robust strategic, operational policy and service design advice
- Apply appropriate frameworks to assess the feasibility of policy options and utilises expertise to advise on how to effectively translate policy intent into action
- Develops implementation material that is fit for purpose and easily understood by operational teams and/or external stakeholders. Including designing and writing operational policy, service design material, business processes, rules, procedures and guidance.
- Scans at an operational system level to identify critical system dynamics; tension points that need addressing; and opportunities for innovation and service and system improvement
- Applies advanced frameworks and methods of analysis to identify operational policy and/or design problems, analyse the issues and assess the operational policy and/or design solutions
- Applies human-centred service design methodologies (e.g. co-design, inclusion of people/customer-centred impacts assessments and evaluation techniques) across policy and operational business units
- Applies insight and diagnostic techniques to analysing issues and data to identify opportunities for innovation; determine key service design issues; or identify potential delivery and implementation impacts from proposed policy changes
- Understands design thinking principles and the value of applying these to achieve better outcomes in operational policy design and engagement activities
- Understands policy issues in the wider context, including Government priorities
Deliver work programme outputs
Manages and leads policy projects and builds stakeholder relationships
- Leads projects ensuring MBIE’s requirements for the work are met, in terms of scope, quality and timeliness
- Well organised, plans systematically, regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of plans and strategies
- Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk, alerting manager to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposing solutions
- Effectively allocates tasks within portfolio area, assists others with project panning, and can plan and manage a range of complex issues
- Knows when to work alone and when to seek advice and identifies resources necessary to meet objectives of self or team
- Chairs and contributes to meetings, including where matters are complex or sensitive, require negotiation or working towards solutions
Relationship Management
Develops and promotes whole of Ministry views in interactions
- Proactively develops and maintains connections with stakeholders within and outside of the Ministry, purposefully leveraging their activities and insights to better achieve desired policy outcomes
- Works collaboratively across operational areas, regulatory systems, and between policy and operational teams
- Actively contributes to development of and promotion of whole of Ministry views in internal and external interaction.
- Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in external interactions
- Tests the effectiveness of stakeholder relationships using a range of appropriate measures and processes (including stakeholder feedback)
Self-Management
Takes responsibility for own behaviour and is open to development
- Models positive behaviours
- Models the desired values and culture of the organisation
- Willingly shares knowledge, expertise and within the team and with others in the organisation
- Acts with honesty and integrity
- Welcomes feedback and is receptive to input from others
Wellbeing, health & safety
- Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
- Ensures own and others safety at all times
- Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
- Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
- Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation
Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry
The Senior Advisor, Operational Policy position reports into the Manager Regulatory Practice and Branch Operations within the Resource Markets branch. The branch sits within the Building, Resources and Markets group.
To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand
Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.
To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.
As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).
Ngā matatau – Our competencies
Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.
Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.
Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.
Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.
Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.
Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.
Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service
Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.
In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.
What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission
