Senior Advisor – Board Appointments and Governance
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Advisor, Board Appointments & Governance position is located in the Entity Performance and Investment Branch of the Labour, Science and Enterprise Group.
With our Crown entity partners we work collaboratively with other government agencies; local government; businesses; industry, sector, union and employer groups; consumer groups; Māori leaders; and scientists to develop and deliver fit-for-purpose policy, services, advice and regulation that support people, businesses, communities and regions to be successful.
The Senior Advisor, Board Appointments & Governance is responsible for leading and supporting appointments processes, and supporting the ongoing effective governance of the Crown entities. The Senior Advisor will contribute to appointment processes for Crown Entities, Statutory Boards, and Crown Companies where that responsibility lies with MBIE, across the following ministerial portfolio’s:
- Building and Construction
- Commerce and Consumer Affairs
- Economic Development
- Research, Science and Innovation
- Tourism
- Workplace Relations and Safety
- Energy and Resources
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Has an understanding of machinery of government processes.
- Good communication skills both verbal and written.
- Has experience with stakeholder consultation.
- Ability to develop credible and respected relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Has experience delivering high quality advice.
- Good general problem identification and solution skills.
- Sound understanding of New Zealand issues, policies, and systems in several areas relevant to MBIE.
- Demonstrates understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- Can flexibly respond to changes in priorities and demands for work and undertakes effective risk management.
- Ability to quickly assimilate new information or areas of work.
- Highly organised and takes a systematic approach to work with a strong attention to detail.
- Police vetting (yes.)
Qualifications
- A tertiary qualification in social science, economics, public policy, or a related discipline, AND 3-7 years relevant experience.
Other
- Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
- Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.
Commissioning
- Leads the commissioning of board appointment processes.
- Completes an assessment of the desirable skills and experiences potential candidates should have to complement the existing Board membership.
- Prepares initial advice to the responsible Minister.
Candidate search and selection processes
- Manages the process to advertise and call for nominations.
- Manages the administrative processes for long and short listing and prepares advice to ministers.
- Completes reference and other due diligence checks on potential candidates and raises any issues or items of concern.
- Prepares documentation to support recommendations for Ministers, APH, Cabinet and where necessary the Governor General.
Post selection processes
- Ensures all Board appointment documentation is accurate and saved appropriately.
- Manages or participates in board member inductions.
- Manages or participates in fees reviews.
Governance
- Supports or undertakes induction of Board members.
- Works with board chairs and members to support good practice governance processes.
- Carries out exit interviews of outgoing Board members.
- Analyses exit interviews and identifies opportunities for improved governance and appointments processes.
Other
- Manages sensitive, private, and confidential information appropriately.
- Actively builds subject matter knowledge and technical expertise.
- Works collaboratively with the Entity Performance and Investment Branch and across MBIE.
- Leads or contributes to initiatives to improve processes and professionalise board appointments.
- Coaches and mentors’ more junior staff.
- Leads or contributes to initiatives to improve processes and professionalise board appointments.
- Actively identifies risks and issues and puts in place the mitigations to manage them.
- Attends and contributes to all of Government forums and cross agency initiatives to improve appointments and governance.
- Provides advice and support to appointments and governance processes managed elsewhere in MBIE.
Customer focus
- Identifies the needs or expectations of customers.
- Treats internal and external customers alike.
- Works hard to meet customer deadlines.
- Always looks to improve service.
- Maintains professionalism.
Relationship management
- Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve MBIE’s outcomes.
- Develops effective working relationships with other MBIE managers and staff to transfer knowledge and learning from the team to the wider organisation.
- Builds and maintains effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, as necessary, to identify and share best practice information and to promote the Ministry, its activities, and approaches.
- Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in any external interactions.
Action oriented
- Takes responsibility for own work.
- Self-starter.
- Seeks input if required.
- Recognises and acts on opportunities.
Self-management
- Models’ positive behaviours.
- Models the desired values and culture of the organisation.
- Actively contributes to building a supportive and collegial Team culture.
- 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 Board Appointments and Governance position reports into the Manager Appointments and Governance within the Entity Performance and Investment branch. The branch sits within the Labour, Science and Enterprise 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
