Principal Engagement Advisor

Mō mātou | About us
Our Severe Weather Integrated Response team (SWIR) is searching for a Principal Engagement Advisor for an 18-month fixed term contract.
The SWIR group was established in February following recent North Island extreme weather events. Immediate response activities to these severe weather events are moving into a longer-term recovery phase, creating an opportunity to contribute your skills to this meaningful programme. MfE has several workstreams supporting the response, focusing on enabling recovery in the immediate term, and adaptation and resilience going forward.
There are two main areas of work within SWIR with two policy teams being stood up for an extended period to continue this important work. One team will focus on regulatory instruments, such as orders in council, to help cut through usual statutory processes to assist councils and others during their recovery phase.
A second team is being stood up to deliver policy advice on natural hazards, with the primary focus of the team being to develop RMA national direction on natural hazards. Work invested in RMA natural direction on this topic will ultimately be transferred into the new National Planning Framework.
These teams will work closely with the Ministry's wider climate change policy and resource management work programmes and share responsibility for ensuring we are joined up as one-MfE, where appropriate.
While the work is of a short-term duration, the ability to make a material impact for those in the affected regions, and for the resource management system, is significant. Lessons learned from this work will shape and inform the roll out of the new resource management system as we prepare for the increased likelihood of other sever weather events.
We have a diverse range of expertise across the team and are looking for an engagement specialist to bring together our shared outcomes and ensure we are communicating and connecting in a considered, effective and integrated way.
Mō tēnei tūrangi mahi | About this role
As our Principal Engagement Advisor,you will be responsible for supporting engagement activity across all key workstreams and connect closely with the climate change policy efforts too. You will coordinate engagement activities effectively and consistent with wider Ministry's engagement guidance. You will work with internal clients to develop collaboration and engagement strategies to support the RM reform programme and provide analysis of issues, risks and opportunities.
In addition, you will develop and maintain a network of key stakeholders across central and local government/ business/community and iwi, as we work alongside other Government agencies such as the Treasury, DIA, MPI, MoT and DPMC, to support the broader response.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
Use your engagement and communication skills to implement and contribute to the SWIR work programme to shape and set up both the Ministry and New Zealanders to recover effectively through future severe weather events.

**We want to hear from you if you have**:

- Political acumen - with demonstrable Government engagement and communications experience
- Experience advising on stakeholder prioritisation and developing stakeholder relationship strategies, and effectively managing associated issued and risks
- Experience working in a fast paced, complex and everchanging environment with resilience to adapt and deliver within this
- A sound understanding of current environmental issues
- We welcome te ao Māori expertise and an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori with commitment to continuously developing your cultural capability and capacity in te ao Māori
- Ability to build credibility and strong relationships with senior leadership and external partners (local government)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Strategic and tactical engagement skills.

Whānuitanga Utu ā-Tau | Salary range
Salary range for this role is $159,491 to $194,044 pa. Appointment within this range will be based on skills and experience.
Ngā hua ka puta i te mahi ki MfE | Benefits of working at MfE
- a flexible by default approach to create a healthy work-life blend
- agile ways of working, allowing you variety and challenges across the organisation as we work as ‘One MfE'
- generous leave entitlements
- active employee networks including Māori Rōpū, Asian Network, Neurodivergent and Disability Networks, Women's Network, Tagata Moana (Pacific Peoples' Network), and Rainbow Network
- opportunities for development and education.

Check out other benefits of joining us and hear what our people say about Working at MfE | Ministry for the Environment.
Mō mātou | About us
The Ministry's purpose is He taiao tōnui mō ngā reanga katoa - a flourishing environment for every generation.
A key priority for the Ministry is building Te Ao Māori capability. This means we work w