Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Position Title: Adviser, Senior and Principal – Policy
Team and Group: Regulatory Reform, Strategic Priorities, Revenue | Sector Strategy Group
Position Type: Permanent, Full Time (38 hours per week)
Location: Wellington CBD office (Queens Wharf)
Salary: Adviser, Band 16 $90,791 – $120,504 per annum (+ KiwiSaver)
Senior Adviser, Band 17 $108,126 – $143,618 per annum (+ KiwiSaver)
Principal Adviser, Band 18 $127,142 – $168,973 per annum (+ KiwiSaver)
- Shape thinking and work on priority issues for the Ministry and Minister of Transport
- Influential roles in a small agency where you can work face-to-face, close to decision makers, and without silos
- Wellington CBD based
About the opportunity
Ready for your next career opportunity? The Ministry is recruiting for multiple policy professionals across our Sector Strategy group.
This will be the next step up in your career as you bring and build your policy skills and legislative experience. You will work on high-profile and priority projects which deliver practical policy changes to improve the way we manage and regulate land transport activities, such as:
- significant reforms, including primary and secondary legislative changes across a wide range of land transport, roading and revenue policy.
- implementing legislative and policy priorities in the Government's Action Plan.
- making improvements to the land transport evidence base, including how we measure the performance of the transport system and where we should focus our resources
- improvements to the Ministry's systems and processes for policy advice, with a focus on driving quality, brevity and clarity.
Based on the work or support that may be required, this position is Wellington based only.
What you'll bring
We are open to candidates at an Adviser, Senior, or Principal Adviser level with the expectation that you bring practical experience working on complex policy in central government.
Adviser, band 16 criteria – experience and capability in:
- contributing to end-to-end policy development across multiple portfolio areas, including a focus on successful implementation.
- applying project management practices and principles and contributing to successful project delivery.
- anticipating requirements to prepare and complete written ministerial correspondence and briefings.
- interpreting legislation across multiple portfolio areas.
- successfully building and maintaining effective working relationships and collaborating with others to achieve outcomes.
As well as:
- Well-developed numerical ability: applying financial analytical concepts.
- Strong writing skills: interpreting and communicating effectively to diverse audiences.
- Strong analytical skills: applying analytical frameworks, including non-financial concepts.
- A relevant tertiary qualification.
Senior Adviser, band 17 criteria – experience and capability in:
- policy development and analysis in the public sector, with a solid understanding of government policy-making procedures, and good political nous.
- end-to-end delivery of large policy projects/programmes, including a focus on successful implementation, while working under pressure and managing tight timelines.
- the policy process and machinery of government, including understanding regulatory frameworks, interpreting legislation, and knowledge about associated government institutions, across multiple portfolio areas.
- successfully building and maintaining effective working relationships at all levels, internally and externally, including collaborating with others to achieve outcomes, and influencing the agenda.
- effectively building the capability of others, including the provision of guidance, coaching, and on-the-job training to less experienced people.
As well as:
- Strong numerical ability: applying financial analytical concepts in various scenarios.
- Strong communication (written and verbal) and influencing skills: using a range of oral, written and visual mediums to communicate effectively to diverse audiences
- Analytical and critical thinking skills: applying analytical frameworks to draw sound conclusions and make appropriate decisions.
- A relevant tertiary qualification.
Principal Adviser, band 18 criteria – experience and capability in:
- leading policy development and analysis in the public sector with a deep understanding of government policy-making procedures, and excellent political nous.
- leading the planning and management of large, complex, risky, ambiguous, and sensitive policy projects/programmes, while working through others to achieve this and under pressure to meet tight timelines.
- the policy process and machinery of government, including understanding regulatory frameworks, interpreting legislation, and knowledge about associated government institutions, across multiple portfolio areas.
- proactively and successfully building and maintaining effective working relationships and networks at all levels, internally and externally, including collaborating with others to achieve outcomes, and influencing the agenda.
- effectively building the capability of others, including the provision of proactive coaching and identifying opportunities to develop people.
As well as:
- Extensive numerical ability: adding significant value when applying financial analytical concepts in various scenarios. Has a strong reputation for this.
- Extensive communication (written and verbal) and influencing skills: using a range of oral, written and visual mediums to communicate and influence effectively to diverse audiences and situations demonstrating political nous.
- Extensive analytical and intellectual thinking skills: adding significant value when applying analytical frameworks, including non-financial concepts to draw well-considered conclusions and make good decisions.
- A relevant tertiary qualification.
This is an excellent opportunity to draw on your previous relevant experiences & contribute to making positive improvements that will have a positive impact on the wider Ministry and our mahi across Aotearoa.
Salary range
The base salary range for our adviser position (band 16) is $90,791 – $120,504 (midpoint $100,420).
The base salary range for our senior position (band 17) is $108,126 - $143,618 (midpoint $119,126).
The base salary range for our principal position (band 18) is $127,142 - $168,973 (midpoint $140,812).
The salary offered will reflect skills and experience.
What we offer
- An exciting work programme, including engagement with senior leaders and Ministers
- Supportive work environment and individual development plans
- Laptop, mobile and work from home IT equipment
- Modern offices with collaborative working spaces, showers, storage for bicycles/scooters and personal lockers
- A range of employee-led networks
- Ability to rotate into different areas of the organisation, providing a great opportunity for exposure to other teams, improving your skillset and gaining valuable experience
How to apply
To view more information about the vacancies, including the job description/s or to apply online click Apply. Please include a CV and cover letter highlighting your relevant skills and experiences.
To apply for this role, you must have right to live and work in New Zealand. You will need to be based in Wellington or ready to relocate. Other locations will not be considered.
Applications close midnight, Tuesday 24 June 2025.
For further information or to speak confidentially, please contact Recruitment Adviser, Kitty McCool at k.mccool@transport.govt.nz.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, orientations, and identities. We aim to have a Ministry that represents the wider Aotearoa that we serve. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels relevant, valued, supported and a sense of belonging.
For any support or accessibility needs during our recruitment process, please contact us at applications@transport.govt.nz
Please note, we are not engaging with recruitment agencies to fill this vacancy and unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.