Principal Policy Advisor | Kaitohutohu Kaupapahere Mātāmua

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

About Us | Ko mātou

Stats NZ | Tatauranga Aotearoa is a Central Government employer of 1200+ people across Aotearoa. We provide data and statistics to support the decisions of Government, Māori and Iwi organisations, businesses, NGOs, and New Zealanders. Our work is About Aotearoa, for Aotearoa - data that improves lives today and for generations to come. We welcome every gender, ethnicity, ability, religion, age, and background and encourage all our people to be their authentic selves.

What's in it for you? | Ngā hua ka riro ki a koe

We encourage you to go to our careers site to learn more about the Way We Work at Stats NZ and also check out our benefits. We want working for us… to work for you!!

Other benefits of joining Stats NZ include:

• Balance life and work commitments
• Develop and grow your career (coaching, training, study support, secondments)
• Contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference to all people in Aotearoa
• 3 extra annual leave days (taken during Christmas office closure)
• City based offices that cater to a variety of working styles and needs
• State of the art, 6-star green building in Wellington

The role | Te tūnga

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced principal policy professional with strong coaching and leadership skills to join our small policy group based in Wellington. 

• Our policy team looks across the data and statistics system to identify opportunities and potential areas for improvement. We are also tackling some emerging new areas of policy, including:
  setting the authorising environment for greater use of administrative data - ensuring that as a national statistics office we can adapt to the digital era and meet customer needs for a wider range of new data products and services.
• fostering trust and confidence in how data is used - including ensuring that adequate and necessary safeguards are in place to uphold public trust and protect personal data - building on the world-leading Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa; and
• supporting the delivery of social investment through the development of a strategy and work programme for integrated data.
• supporting the development of a strategic long-term plan for the future of macroeconomics statistics.

What you bring | Nōu te rourou  

We understand transferable skills can come from experience gained from outside of work. We encourage you to be you in your application.

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and lifting our cultural capability. You don't need to be knowledgeable in all these areas already, but you do need to be on board with learning and have a genuine interest and willingness to grow on this journey with us.

You will be able to hit the ground running, with the agility to work across a range of complex subjects. If you have the following attributes, we are keen to hear from you:

• A thorough understanding of public policy and the machinery of government 
• Proven track record in leading complex policy deliverables
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in policy analysis and development
• Strong planning and coaching skills
• Adept at identifying critical issues quickly and providing pragmatic solutions
• Ability to effectively analyse information, provide context, and shape it into actionable policy insights.
• Expertise in crafting high-quality written reports with a strong emphasis on accuracy, ensuring that your reports meet the highest standards.

Tell us about yourself in your cover letter, what attracted you to this role, and what you would bring to Stats NZ.

How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono 

If this sounds like you, click on the Apply now button to be redirected to the application page on our careers site. The position description is located on the right-hand side of the page.

We will be screening applications as we receive them to move swiftly to interview. You may be asked to complete a pre-interview screen via phone or video. Please let us know in your application if we need to make any specific accommodations during our process.

Please reach out to recruitment@stats.govt.nz  if you have any questions.

You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Background and various pre-employment checks are part of our recruitment process.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: unsolicited CVs will not be accepted.