Chief Science Advisor

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE
- Exciting Science Leadership opportunity to utilise your expertise across the science sector and to influence government policy
- 2 Year Secondment Opportunity. Location: Flexible from an institutional perspective but largely Wellington based
- Spend approximately up to 80% of your time as the Chief Science Advisor enabling you to keep across your current research Tēnei tūranga - About the role:
The Chief Science Advisor role is one of two exciting opportunities to provide independent science advice to MBIE.

(The other opportunity is for a Departmental Science Advisor, which reports to the CSA. Please refer here to review the advertisement for the Departmental Science Advisor role).

These are both unique and important roles which will allow you to make a significant impact on New Zealand’s science system and how we invest in our future, whilst also cementing New Zealand’s reputation for excellent research in the world of science.
You will currently be an active leader in the New Zealand scientific community with a proven track record of experience and achievement in the scientific and academic community.

You will be seconded to MBIE for a proportion of your time so that you can continue your current research or maintain a hand in your scientific field. The secondment also helps you to be a conduit between MBIE and the science system.

For this CSA role approximately 80% of your time will be working for MBIE (the other 20% remains in your substantive position).
In this role you will actively participate in the “senior government science leadership community” which includes connecting with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and other senior government science advisors.

The CSA reports to the Deputy Secretary Labour Science and Enterprise in MBIE and looks after a small, expert team that balances science expertise and science impact, and understands both science providers and science users.
Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and experience required include:

- Proven track record of achievements in the scientific and academic community.
- Thought leadership with significant contacts throughout the science sector.
- Leadership in the science sector of New Zealand with contributions at an international level.
- Science excellence expertise and/or expertise in assessing for science impact.
- Working in partnership with Māori to actively understand and encourage the use of Mātauranga Māori
- Honouring Te Tiriti obligations and opportunities is response to addressing the marginalisation of Māori in the RSI system
- Communicating; working across research organisations, academia, and government to influence and encourage new thinking, quickly establishing rapport and creating sustained relationships.
- A post graduate qualification in science.
- To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

You will bring strong general leadership and coaching capabilities to the team together with your sharp strategic agility.

**Ētahi kōrero mō 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
- Māia - Bold and brave
- Pae Kahurangi - Build our Future
- Pono Me Te Tika - Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity - Hīkina Whakatutuki - which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori 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, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori 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 Māori 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 mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahungaroa o ngāi wi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māor