Senior Policy Analyst

Manatu Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries are looking for a Senior Policy Analyst to play a key role as part of growing team to contribute to policy that will impact MPI and the primary sector as a whole.

**Mō tō mātou rōpū - About our team**
The Forestry and Biosecurity team is a team that leads emerging policy direction for forestry and trees to support a sustainable low emissions future - particularly focussed on ensuring new forest plantings to contribute to the Government's goals for climate change and sustainable land use.
Forestry and Bioeconomy team respond to the changing needs of the Ministry and Ministers, performing other tasks as reasonably required.

They look after two contemporary and large issues across New Zealand, with two of their main projects being the Native Afforestation Long Term Strategy and Action Plan, as well as the reducing deforestation of native forests.

**Key Accountabilities**:
To provide timely, accurate, advice on the operation of policy frameworks, by monitoring and evaluating the results of policy initiatives and programmes in the primary sector.

To identify and report on trends and issues in the primary sector by:

- Liaising with sector participants, government agencies, Maori, and other relevant stakeholders to identify trends in sector performance, and social and environmental changes that could affect the sector;
- Monitoring relevant developments in the international context.

To develop cost-effective, and evidence-based, policy options, for Government action related to the primary sector by:

- Application of relevant research and policy development methodologies, including cost-benefit analysis;
- Consideration of economic, social and environmental impacts of proposals;
- Collaborating with peers in other Departments on cross-government policy development; and
- Continually improving policy-development and regulatory intervention process skills.

To assist in the development of legislative and regulatory instruments to express Government primary sector policy, by:

- Providing Ministers with clear, concise and relevant information on issues and options;
- Leading and supporting the required Cabinet, drafting, inter-Government and Parliamentary processes (including Select Committees);
- Creating and maintaining effective inter-Branch, inter-agency, and sector relationships on the progress of specific issues;
- The creation and delivery of effective communication strategies around Government initiatives and programmes.

To assist other Directorates and MPI branches to achieve the organisational strategy, by contributing to cross-Branch and cross-MPI work streams, projects and ad-hoc responses.

To support MPI's role as a trusted partner of the primary sector in achieving Government goals, by:

- Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with Maori, sector representatives, research providers, local and central Government and non-Government agencies;
- Actively engaging with the sector at regional and national level to identify specific industry development options and assist their implementation.

To support Ministers with primary sector portfolios by providing timely and relevant responses to Ministerial and Parliamentary questions, Official Information Act requests and preparing Ministerial correspondence.

For Senior Analysts, provide coaching, mentoring support, and advice to analysts

**What you'll bring**:
You will be an exceptional policy practitioner, meaning you will bring:

- Sound understanding of, and experience operating in, Government processes, including Parliamentary processes;
- Previous experience in establishing and effectively maintaining collaborative relationships with stakeholders, Maori and Government agencies;
- Demonstrated experience in project management;
- Sound understanding of economic and resource management policy approaches and frameworks;
- Sound knowledge of basic components of the international trade, and environmental management frameworks and supporting instruments;
- Sound understanding of primary sector structure and operating context;
Sound understanding of the food manufacture and retail sector and operating context.

Manatu Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries are looking for a Senior Policy Analyst to play a key role as part of growing team to contribute to policy that will impact MPI and the primary sector as a whole.