Senior Policy Advisor

**SENIOR POLICY ADVISORS (3 PERMANENT POSITIONS AND 1 FIXED-TERM POSITION)**

Te Tāhū o te Ture - The Ministry of Justice
Policy Group, National Office, Wellington

**_ Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini_**
**_My strength is not mine alone, but comes from the many._**

**Te whiwhinga mahi/The Opportunity**

We are looking for experienced senior policy advisors to join the Policy Group. As a Senior Policy Advisor in the Policy Group you will lead and support others to resolve complex and challenging issues, and manage relationships with key stakeholders. You will also help inform current thinking about, and drive positive change in, Aotearoa New Zealand's courts and wider justice system. This work will include:

- leading regulatory and legislative change work
- advising on policy related to improving participants' experience of the courts and justice systems
- ensuring the continued independence of the Judiciary from the Executive
- engaging with ministers, the judiciary, the legal profession, and other government and non-government stakeholders
- providing advice on the implications for courts of other agencies' policy and legislative proposals.

If you will be motivated by working to provide people with faster, easier access to justice, we want to hear from you.

We currently have Senior Advisor roles available in the following teams:
**COURTS STEWARDSHIP TEAM - One permanent position**:The** **Courts Stewardship Team is a new team set up to develop, test, and implement a best practice approach to regulatory stewardship in the courts and tribunals systems, with an eye to what will also work across the Ministry's other regulatory systems. The team also plays a role in capacity building to grow the Ministry's stewardship capability and runs a cyclical Justice Systems Stewardship Amendment Bill process.

**COURTS** SYSTEM POLICY TEAM - One permanent position and one 6 month fixed-term/secondment position**: The Courts Systems Policy 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.

**VICTIMS TEAM- One permanent position**:The Victims Team is preparing advice on what it might take to shift to a victim-centric justice system, supporting other policy teams to bring victims' justice needs to the centre of their advice, and coordinating the Ministry's victim-centric initiatives. The team is also working closely with the Justice Sector Directorate to deliver new ways of working for justice sector agencies with responsibilities to victims.

**He pūkenga tou/Skills and Experience**
- **Relationship skills** Do you care about helping people and have a strong sense of integrity? Are you self-aware and trustworthy, with a willingness to learn from others?
- **Leadership skills** Can you take the initiative on issues, coach and lead others to solve complex problems?
- **Problem solving skills** Can you think analytically and critically? Do you find complex problems interesting, and have a knack for solving them? Can you take a systems perspective, see the bigger picture and make links between different topics and areas of work?
- **Communication and advisory skills** Are you an excellent communicator? Can you write clearly, in a way that simplifies complex information? Do you ask questions to improve your understanding?

Experience with legislative processes or a legal background would be an advantage, but is not required.

We will:

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

**Ko wai mātou/**Who we are**

When you choose to work in the Policy Group at the Ministry of Justice - Te 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. You will be supported and challenged to grow your policy skills, professional networks, and knowledge of the justice sector. Our teams are collaborative and strive for a professional, inclusive and enjoyable culture, intent on improving justice outcomes.

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 where diversity is welcomed and celebrated.

**Utu ā-tau/**Salary**

The remuneration band for this role is $107,540 to $150,174 - th