Principal Academic Advisor

At least two days a week (part time)
- 3 month secondment opportunity (flexible)
- Hybrid role - work remotely and in the Wellington office

The Office of the Chief Science Advisor at the Ministry of Health is delighted to announce a secondment opportunity for short-term academic advisors as part of our Academic Engagement Work Programme.
Ko wai mātou - About us
A key role of the Evidence, Research and Innovation Directorate (ERI) at the Ministry of Health is to further build scientific and research capacity and capability within the Ministry. This includes working with colleagues across the Ministry to champion the use of evidence in work programme development, and in decision making.
Ko ake mahi - What you'll do
The intent of these roles is to strengthen the Ministry's evidence-based decision making, enhance the flow of information from academia into the Ministry, foster collaborative relationships and create professional development opportunities for people into and out of the Ministry.. As well as knowledge exchange opportunities, the academic will get insight into the decision-making process in central Government and meet key decision makers.
Outputs expected include;
- A short media piece (written or video) to be developed in conjunction with the Ministry communication team for dissemination internally
- A short reflection to be produced at the end of their time at the Ministry of Health, with advice for how the Ministry can better engage with academia (and vice versa).

Ko pūkenga - What you'll bring
While we are open to expertise across all areas of Health, we have particular interest in hearing from people who can make a contribution to the following areas:
Challenges in primary care
Academics with expertise in addressing the challenges our primary healthcare system is currently facing. These include but aren't limited to;
- Financial sustainability and funding models for primary care
- Demographic shifts and increased complexity
- Prevention focussed, accessible and flexible operating models
- Cross-sectorial integration and inter-disciplinary models of care?
- Workforce models: transdisciplinary and extended scope development for community based regulated health workforce

Financial sustainability
Academics with expertise relevant to understanding and implementing changes consistent with financial sustainability. This might include, for example, expertise in:

- Conducting value for money or cost-effectiveness analysis
- The systems and frameworks needed to support prioritisation
- Productivity measurement
- Measuring the impacts of health interventions
- Methodological aspects of health economic analyses
- Teaching and capability building in health economics.

The successful applicant will be;
- Available for at least two days a week for up to 3 months (flexible), with the end date being no later than June 30 2025
- Provisionally approved for release for the secondment from your current employer

We value diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that diversity brings us.
Ko mātou me tō matou whare - What we bring
Unlock your career potential at Manatū Hauora, where you'll discover a world of opportunities for personal and professional growth. We're not just a workplace; we're a whanau that values your well-being and the importance of work-life balance. At Manatū Hauora, diversity and inclusion are woven into the fabric of our culture, ensuring that every voice is heard and every perspective matters. Your wellness is our priority, with comprehensive support and resources to keep you thriving. Join us today and be part of a team dedicated to improving healthcare.
Ngā Uaratanga - Our values
Our Values underpin how we work together and with the health and disability sector, public service colleagues and communities.
- Manaakitanga (Listen on Māori Dictonary.co.nz) - we show care, inclusion respect, support, trust, and kindness to each other
- Kaitiakitanga (Listen on Māori Dictionary.co.nz) - we preserve and maintain an environment that enables the Ministry and our people to thrive
- Whakapono (Listen on Māori Dictionary.co.nz) - we have trust and faith in each other to do the right thing

Me pēhea te tono mai - How to apply
We value diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference could bring to us. Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.