Senior Ministerial Writer

• Can you develop and deliver responses to Ministerial correspondence, OIAs, and Parliamentary Questions? 
• Gain in-depth exposure to interesting policy issues, working with stakeholders across MBIE, in Ministers' offices and externally.
• Salary range $85,537 - $101,911 + KiwiSaver and wellness benefits.
• Permanent role - Wellington CBD.

You will be located in the Employment Relations team but will work across the Workplace Relations and Safety Policy branch, leading and delivering the teams' Ministerial servicing in collaboration with your policy and operational colleagues, and your counterparts in the wider ministerial servicing teams in MBIE. Our work covers employment relations and standards, international labour policy, health and safety and Accident Compensation policy.

You will gain in-depth exposure to interesting policy issues, working with stakeholders across MBIE, in Ministers' offices and externally.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• drafting replies to Ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary questions.
• preparing responses to OIA requests and proactive releases.
• supporting other periodic requirements, such as reporting and the accountability cycle.

You will do this by collaborating with business groups to source information and advice, delivering within required timeframes. This is a great role to implement quality assurance and drive continuous improvement.

The Workplace Relations and Safety Policy branch operates as a team and not as a hierarchy. You'll be part of a team filled with smart and committed policy professionals with excellent policy craft skills and domain knowledge. We have a positive and engaging work environment.

Given the unique nature of our systems, you will enjoy working collaboratively and alongside others. You'll be up for being part of a full and interesting work programme that spans multiple Ministers and attracts significant attention.

We are focused on developing our people, and with the wide variety of work across the branch there are often opportunities to work with other teams on projects that will help you grow and build your experience to achieve your career goals.
 

Skills and Experience Required
 

As a Senior Ministerial Writer, you will:

• Develop and deliver responses to Ministerial correspondence, OIAs, and Parliamentary Questions.
• Coordinate periodic requirements, such as regular work programme reports or materials for Annual Review hearings.
• Collaborate effectively with management, subject matter experts, Ministers' offices, communications and legal colleagues to identify and mitigate risk.
• Provide quality assurance, peer support and coaching as required.
• Provide sound technical advice to stakeholders and colleagues.
• Support and lead a continuous improvement culture in the branch through innovative ideas and a willingness to explore new operational delivery practices and approaches.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• A strong writer and communicator, with excellent attention to detail.
• Experienced in writing Ministerial correspondence, OIAs and PQs.
• Familiar with government decision-making and operational procedures, and Parliamentary and Select Committee accountability processes.
• Able to identify and understand customer needs and adapt style and language to meet them.
• Discreet and politically literate, with sound judgement.
• Able to work well under pressure and to tight timeframes.
• Highly organised, proactive and administratively proficient, with a can-do attitude and flexible working style
• Comfortable building and managing relationships across a range of organisational levels and stakeholders, to work through others to gather the input you need to meet your deadlines.
• An agile and critical thinker, able to assimilate new information quickly and weigh opposing viewpoints.

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, katutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapakua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Click here to view a position description. All applications must be submitted via our online process and include a Cover Letter and CV outlining your interest and suitability for the role. 

Email Roxana Anderson at roxana.anderson@mbie.govt.nz quoting ref MBIE/15948 if you have any further questions.

Applications close on Wednesday 16th October at 5pm