Kaiwhakahaere | Manager - Policy Coordination team

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Fixed Term or Secondment opportunity to 19 December 2025

Mō te tūranga mahi | About the role

We are looking for an experienced Manager to lead the Policy Coordination team.

The Policy Coordination team provides policy coordination support across the Environmental Management and Adaptation (EMA) Business Group, including supporting and coordinating cross-agency policy work and support to governance meetings and multi-minister meetings.

The team works across all of EMA to:

• Provide secretariat support and coordination of various governance groups (agendas, minutes, logistics) including taking a strategic approach to timing and agendas for meetings.
• Coordinate Ministerial agendas/weekly reports.
• Coordinate Ministerials and OIAs.
• Support efficient ways of working across the Ministry.
• Triage and support assignment and delivery of non-BAU work requests.
• Maintain a central inbox for EMA from which governance and other EMA wide material is received and dispatched including liaison with OCE/centralised ministerial support function, and Ministers' offices.
• Provide oversight of the quality of papers generated in EMA including final proof reading and formatting and tracking of material sent to ministers.
• Quality control of papers sent to ministers, key elements are:
  • advice is free and frank and politically neutral, professional and evidence-based, and focused on providing Ministers and the Government with the full range of options along with any risks, as well as aligning with ministerial expectations of quality, format and presentation styles
  • ensuring a cohesive narrative across ministers and related recommendations and decisions sought

A key focus of this role will include leading the team's work programme and proactively building/maintaining key relationships with:

• General Manager Resource Management System
• Deputy Secretary EMA
• EMA Business Support Manager
• All EMA policy teams and managers 
• Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) on Ministerial papers and support
• Private secretaries / Ministers' offices
• Cross-agency teams

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• Proficient in leading people and managing relationships.  
• Skilled in collaborating with peers and cross partner agencies, effectively influencing to achieve desired outcomes. 
• Keen strategic focus and ability to look across multiple programmes of work to make linkages and provide advice to senior leaders.  
• Ability to liaise across work programmes and agencies to ensure appropriate advice and information is provided to governance groups. 
• An eye for detail and an ability to supervise the production of high-quality documents / products.  
• Capable of driving work programs, identifying critical issues, and maintaining a solution-focused approach.   
• Ability to consider and deliver to Ministry and Business Group wide priorities as well as team priorities.  
• Work collaboratively with other managers to flexibly resource priority work.  
• Support the GM to deliver complex work programmes.  
• Ability to effectively brief Ministers, Select Committees and senior leaders. 
• Private Secretary experience would be advantageous.

Whānuitanga Utu ā-Tau | Salary range

Salary range for this role is $164,276 to $199,444 pa.  Appointment within this range will be based on skills and experience.

Ngā hua ka puta i te mahi ki MfE | Benefits of working at MfE

• a flexible working approach to embrace a healthy work-life blend
  
• agile ways of working, allowing you variety and challenges across the organisation as we work as ‘One MfE'
  
• active employee networks including Māori Rōpū, Asian Network, Neurodivergent and Disability Networks, Women's Network, Tagata Moana (Pacific Peoples' Network), and Rainbow Network
  
• opportunities for development and education.          
  

Check out other benefits of joining us and hear what our people say about Working at MfE | Ministry for the Environment.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and cover letter.  Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.  

If you require further information about this position please contact Ngaire Howes at Ngaire.howes@mfe.govt.nz. 

The position description is available via our careers centre www.mfe.govt.nz/jobs.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and actively strive to be a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture.  We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.  We are proud to be a Rainbow Tick and Gender Tick certified organisation and are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.

We want to ensure any accessibility needs you may have are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all.  Therefore, please let us know if there are any adjustments or support we can offer to make the recruitment process more accessible to you.  Please contact us at vacancy@mfe.govt.nz if you would like to discuss any accessibility needs you may have.

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.

Rā Katinga | Applications close: 
Sunday, 15 June 2025