Senior Policy Analyst and Policy Analysts

About the Ministry for Social Development / Mō te Manatū Whakahiato Ora
The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We're in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.
We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.
As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
We aim to acknowledge and be guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to pursue the following values in our work:

- Manaaki - We care about the wellbeing and success of people
- Mahi tahi - We work together, making a difference for communities
- Whānau - We are inclusive and build a sense of belonging and place
- Tika me te pono - We do the right thing with integrity

Senior Policy Analyst and Policy Analysts / Kaitātari Kaupapahere
- Permanent Opportunities
- Location: Wellington

Are you passionate about making a difference for our communities?
We are seeking a motivated Senior Policy Analyst and Policy Analyst to join our energetic Employment Policy Teams at the Ministry of Social Development - Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora (MSD).
There is a lot of great work you could be involved in with a focus on improving employment and wellbeing outcomes and supporting people into sustainable employment. Joining our teams will give you the opportunity to lead and work on policies that make a difference for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market.

About the team / Te āhuatunga a te tīma
This team is part of a busy Policy Branch. The branch has a supportive team environment where people are focused on delivering high quality policy advice. We work hard to ensure policy settings reflect the diverse needs and wellbeing of New Zealanders while maintaining a strong focus on staff wellbeing and personal work/life balance. We pride ourselves on investing in and supporting staff to reach their full potential.
The two Employment Policy Teams provide advice to Ministers and senior leaders on supporting people into suitable work in line with the Welfare Overhaul work programme and other Government priorities. This includes advising on what meaningful and sustainable employment looks like for people who experience disadvantage in the labour market, including those who receive a main benefit.
A key part of our role is working across the Ministry, government and with other stakeholders to identify specific opportunities to improve people's employment outcomes, reflecting our commitment under the Welfare Overhaul to strengthen Government's employment services. We also influence wider labour market strategy and social policy to promote equitable outcomes and ensure that Government policy reflects the communities we serve.
Our teams collaborate to deliver a busy joint work programme with a mix of fast turnaround advice as well as planning and preparing work with a 6 month to 1-year timeframe.

**Recent examples of the work we do includes**:

- designing targeted initiatives that support people into employment, such as expanding Flexi-Wage and Mana in Mahi, and reinstating the Training Incentive Allowance
- co-leading the review of active labour market programmes (ALMPs), including providing advice on how to address gaps in employment support for displaced workers and disabled people, and how to improve understanding across government of what ALMPs work, for whom, in what circumstances
- leading Working Matters, an employment action plan for disabled people, and the Older Workers Employment Action Plan, as well as contributing to policy actions in other employment action plans under the All-of-Government Employment Strategy
- developing fast-paced advice to support the Government's response to COVID-19 such as advice to stand-up the Covid-19 Wage Subsidy and the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
- leading components of Government work programmes that impact broader outcomes, including securing funding to improve access to driver licence support
- influencing and providing strategic advice on wider labour market strategy and policies, including workforce development, immigration, seasonal work, “the future of work” and climate change

Skills and experience / He pūkenga tou

We are keen to hear from motivated Senior Policy Analysts and Policy Analysts.

**For a Policy Analyst, the core parts of the role will include**:

- providing or contributing to advice that is clear, well-reasoned and politically neutral
- bringing together evidence to draw conclusions (eg on key issues and their root causes)
- engaging with stakeholders and the community
- working collaboratively on projects both within MSD and across agencies

**For a Senior Analyst, this will include**:

- providing or contributing to advice on complex issues, with mínimal suppor