Senior Offshore Renewable Energy Advisor
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Offshore Renewable Energy Advisor is a senior regulatory role supporting MBIE's administration of the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill and once it becomes law.
The Senior Offshore Renewable Energy Advisor brings technical and/or regulatory strengths to:
- Deliver robust recommendations relating to permitting and compliance decisions and general permit management that balance the efficient application of legislation and regulation, commercial outcomes, and public accountability.
- Collaborate with staff from a range of teams in relation to permit applications, permit administration, engagement with iwi and hapū, monitoring permits throughout their lifecycle, and monitoring the future decommissioning of relevant infrastructure.
- Work confidently with other parts of government, including the Electricity Authority, WorkSafe New Zealand, Maritime New Zealand and the Environmental Protection Authority.
- Support the development of government policy, respond to Official Information Act, Parliamentary questions and other information requests, and contribute to work to support the Minister of Energy and other core public service activities.
Responsibilities of this role are expected to change over time as MBIE responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- A good understanding of the offshore renewable energy sector (or similar) is desirable.
- Experience in a regulatory role in the offshore renewable energy sector (or similar) is desirable.
- Understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the role of the Crown in partnering with Māori.
- Experience working on technically and/or politically and/or legally complex projects.
- Ability to integrate the ‘big picture’ (strategic and/or long term) with day-to-day operational processes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, with the ability to integrate and balance statutory and specialist technical information and present them with simplicity and clarity that can be understood by a range of audiences.
- Highly developed analytical ability, and experience in using advanced critical thinking, reasoning and judgement to identify technical issues.
- Ability to think through ambiguous and conflicting requirements and solve problems pragmatically, effectively and promptly.
- Ability to work with minimal direction and guidance on what is required, and confidence working on new, difficult or unusual assignments.
- Ability to work with flexibility and to adapt quickly to change.
- Experience in leading multiple pieces of work concurrently and actively, and independently plan and manage workload.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a regulatory role, or in the offshore renewable energy sector (or similar), or in providing services to the offshore renewable energy sector (or similar).
- A tertiary qualification in a relevant technical discipline – earth sciences, natural resources, geotechnical engineering, etc. Candidates with a different tertiary discipline but with extensive industry experience or regulatory experience will also be considered.
- Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
- Has, or must be able to obtain, a security clearance.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Produce robust permitting recommendations in a timely manner
- Efficiently processes complex applications under the Offshore Renewable Energy Act 2024 and associated legislation.
- Conducts research into complex issues and produces technical advice.
- Uses judgement to identify and assess options against desired outcomes, identifies their cost-effectiveness and impact, and identifies risk and effective mitigation strategies.
- Keeps applicants informed of information required and the progress of their applications throughout the assessment process.
- Quality liaison with other government departments and agencies, as well as other teams within MBIE, throughout the assessment of applications.
- Deals comfortably with uncertainty and makes innovative, practical and durable recommendations without the total picture.
- Delivers robust, well-written recommendations for decisions that balance the efficient application of legislation and regulation, commercial outcomes, and public accountability in a timely manner.
- Works with minimal direction and guidance on what is required and is confident working on new, difficult or unusual assignments.
Effective permit management
- Ensures permit records are complete and up-to-date.
- Ensures financial, technical and other reporting compliance is up-to-date, including development plans, decommissioning proposals and cost estimates, and financial securities.
- Ensures identified non-compliance is followed up, including identifying options in communications with permit holders.
- Site visits and investigations are conducted professionally, safely and in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.
Continuous business improvement
- Informs and supports interpretation of, and changes to, the regulatory framework and relevant legislation.
- Ensures internal processes are well-documented and reflect the current situation.
- Creates and reviews content for external communications, including information and guidance.
- Supports cross-team projects to improve the efficiency of the permit allocation regime.
- Assists in developing reporting and monitoring tools to gather data and measure the effectiveness of permitting and compliance activities against objectives.
Relationship management
- Builds and maintains strong working relationships with MBIE teams, other regulatory agencies and the Minister’s office.
- Leads and manages constructive working relationships with applicants and permit holders.
- Engages effectively with iwi and hapū on permit applications and permit-related matters.
Leadership
- Actively contributes to knowledge-sharing and coaching and mentoring of staff.
- Understands the strategic and regulatory goals in sufficient detail to drive outcomes and provide support to others.
- Upholds the standards of integrity and conduct expected of people working in the public service.
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 Offshore Renewable Energy Advisor reports to the National Manager, Petroleum and Minerals 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
