Principal Adviser – Operational Policy

Wellington based

Permanent

Salary: $120 to 160 k per annum

Full time preferred but will consider a 0.8 or 0.9 FTE

Job Reference number JAA6482

The opportunity

We are partnering with a central government client to find an experienced Principal Adviser or a Senior Adviser ready to step up to lead high-impact policy and regulatory initiatives that support change and resilience in the primary sector and climate change spaces.

This is a newly created role, offering real scope to make the role your own to shape work programmes, lift regulatory stewardship, and lead meaningful policy change in a complex and high-impact environment. This is also an opportunity to indirectly lead a team and provide coaching and mentoring to more junior staff members.

What you’ll do

You’ll lead complex workstreams, provide evidence-based advice to Ministers and senior leaders, and foster strategic development across the system.

Key responsibilities are to:

• Lead the development of regulatory and operational policy across the primary and climate related sectors
• Drive strategic outcomes through systems thinking, regulatory stewardship, and cross-agency collaboration.
• Coach and mentor staff, contributing to team capability, and continuous improvement.
• Promote Te Tiriti – Crown relations and integrating Te Ao Māori perspectives into regulatory frameworks.
• Lead primary and climate, land and agricultural sector related projects such as improving efficiencies, cost recovery, and other incentives.

What you’ll bring

·         You bring extensive experience in policy, regulation, and government processes

·         You are confident navigating complex regulatory systems, supporting legislation drafting, producing high-quality advice, and using your strong written and verbal communication skills for different audiences

·         Your ability to analyse problems, assess regulatory impacts, and communicate clearly makes you a trusted adviser

·         Your ability and want to mentor, coach and develop more junior staff members

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. Our client offers a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you would be a great fit.

________________________________________

Applications are welcome from Senior Advisers ready to take the next step.

What’s on offer

• Opportunity to shape a new role and influence system-level outcomes
• Permanent, secure role based in Wellington
• Opportuntiy to coach, mentor and support more junior staff members
• Make an impact across a broad spectrum of work including regulatory, legislative, and operational changes within the primary and climate change sectors

Next steps

APPLY NOW with your updated CV (word format) and a short cover letter highlighting your relevant experience referencing Job number JAA6482. Please direct any queries to James Atkin at James@thejohnsongroup.co.nz

CV’s will be reviewed and shortlisted in the second week of January with interviews to follow later that month.