Principal Policy Advisor

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini._
- Success is not the work of one, but the work of many._

**Te whiwhinga mahi / The Opportunity**

Are you a talented policy professional, looking for your next opportunity to contribute to the future of Aotearoa New Zealand?

Our work in the Justice Policy Group is wide-ranging, with opportunities to shape thinking and drive change across the justice and social sectors. It is important and challenging work, which will test your critical thinking and collaborative skills every day.

We are seeking a principal policy advisor to join the _Courts System Policy Team_. If you are interested in improving the experience for people that use our courts, and ensuring stronger access to justice, then this is the role for you. This team provides policy advice that supports the effective and efficient operation of our courts and coronial systems. This includes advising on key constitutional principles, such as judicial independence, procedural fairness, and open justice, and working closely with the judiciary, legal profession and other stakeholders. We are responsible for maintaining and updating key pieces of legislation, such as the Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Disclosure Act and Evidence Act.

As a principal policy advisor, you will bring deep policy experience to fulfil key leadership roles within their teams and across the wider Group. Further, you will be responsible for supporting capability, providing authoritative advice, and leading programmes of work on complex and sensitive issues.

**He pūkenga tou / Skills and experience**
- **Relationship skills** - Strong skills in engaging diverse internal and external stakeholders, and incorporating their perspectives
- **Advisory skills** - Extensive knowledge of machinery of government and public policy, and the ability to anticipate risks and test analyses
- **Communication skills** - Excellent written and oral communication skills - in particular, the ability to present complex issues in an accessible way, and ask questions to improve understanding
- **Te Ao Māori** - Experience in working with iwi and Māori organisations and designing, applying, and advising on te ao Māori and te Tiriti-based frameworks for policy.

**Ko wai mātou / Who we are**

When you choose to work in the Policy Group at Justice - Tāhū o Te Ture - you'll join a successful Group that is focused on making New Zealand a safe and just society. We are committed to honouring our commitments under te Tiriti o Waitangi.

At full complement, aside from the manager, the _Courts System Policy Team_ has two principal policy advisors (including this role), five senior policy advisors, three policy advisors and one graduate advisor. As a principal policy advisor_, _you'll work alongside the existing principal policy advisor to support the manager, and wider team, with your thought leadership, political nous and excellent relationship management skills. You'll use your initiative to build collaboration, critical thinking and robust analysis within the team, including through the coaching and mentoring of more junior members in the team and across the Policy Group.

Joining the Ministry of Justice means you will become part of an inclusive organisation that values you and the communities we serve. It's our promise to ensure our workplace is one where our people feel healthy and safe, supported and able to be themselves at work. We value respect as the foundation for building a positive workplace culture and one where diversity is welcomed and celebrated.

**He aha ngā painga o tēnei mahi mōu**/**Why you will enjoy working here**

We will:

- prioritise your well-being and professional development
- empower you to coach others, and be coached by experienced policy professionals
- provide opportunities to work on a broad range of important and challenging policy problems, and
- provide a flexible working environment.

**Utu ā-tau/**Salary**

The appointing salary for this role will be between $124,397 and $173,973 based on skills and experience.

**Tono mai / How to Apply