Principal Advisor Operations

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

**Discover a career with purpose at MBIE**
- Lead and support tactical responses to operational activities
- Maintain awareness of emerging trends and events
- Drive efforts towards operational excellence
- Provide expertise, guidance and advice for decision makers
- Salary ranges from $118,390 - 143,639 | Wellington based
- Secondment to 28 July 2026

**Tenei turanga - About the Role**:
We're seeking a talented Principal Advisor Operations to lead and support our tactical responses and drive operational excellence.

As a results-driven individual with a passion for delivering successful outcomes in a demanding environment, this is your opportunity to join us in shaping the future of INZ.

As part of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer's team, you'll play a critical role in ensuring INZ is delivering on its strategy.

**Nga pukenga me nga wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required**

As part of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer's team, you'll play a critical role in ensuring INZ is delivering on its strategy.

To be eligible for the role you will need to hold either a New Zealand citizenship or a New Zealand Permanent Resident visa.

In this role, you'll:

- Assist in the development of operational advice or briefings
- Monitor sensitive cases to ensure good outcomes, providing support where required
- Stay ahead of emerging trends, events, and internal initiatives
- Identify opportunities for improvement
- Ensure all operational units of INZ are aligned in their delivery

You'll also engage and collaborate with key stakeholders across the organisation and wider Ministry to address gaps in processes that impact our priorities.

Being a self-starter with deep and extensive immigration experience and the ability/experience to lead issues will be key to your success in this role.

**Etahi korero mo MBIE - About MBIE**:
MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.
- Mahi Tahi - Better Together
- Maia - Bold and brave
- Pae Kahurangi - Build our Future
- Pono Me Te Tika - Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Maori identity - Hikina Whakatutuki - which broadly means 'lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Maori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Maori, other Maori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Maori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Maori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mohio ana a Hikina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kotuinga I waenganui i a ngai Maori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a, kei te whai ia ki te whakau ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ma te whai kiko o nga kotuinga ahungaroa o ngai wi, o ngai Maori, me etahi atu ropu Maori ki te Karauna, katutuki tenei. He ahuatanga nui tenei e ahei ai nga mahi whanaketanga a-ohanga, a-papori hoki ki a ngai Maori me Aotearoa whanui. E whai tonu ana matou ki te kotui atu ki nga iwi mo te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i nga kaupapakua roa nei e tami ana i a ngai Maori me Aotearoa whanui, a, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i nga aheinga kokiritanga ma nga iwi, me te tautoko i nga iwi kia whai mana ake ai enei aheinga.

**Me pehea te tono - How to Apply**:
Click here to view a position description.

We can't wait to hear from you

**Applications close 14 October 2025