Policy Advisor

**Policy Advisor (level 2) - Multiple Positions**

**Permanent & Fixed Term/Secondment - National Office - Wellington**

**Te whiwhinga mahi/The Opportunity**
- Kahore tetahi o tatou, taea te mahi, nga mahi e taea o tatou katoa_
- Not one of us alone can do the job as well as all of us working together_

Do you want to help solve complex policy problems with real life impact on New Zealanders' ability to access efficient and effective courts and justice services in Aotearoa? Do you want to be part of a team that values Ngā Ao Māori approaches and applies Te Tiriti o Waitangi to our policy development and advice?

Our aim is to build a 21st century, people-centred justice system and Ministry of Justice. We are working towards a justice system that will make communities safer, maintain integrity and improve responsiveness, and maintain the civil and democratic rights of all New Zealanders.

We are looking for experienced policy advisors to join the Policy Group. The roles available are in various Policy Group teams, including the Access to Justice Team, Courts System Policy Team, Victims Team and Criminal Law Team.

The **Access to Justice Team** seeks to ensure equitable access to the courts and other dispute resolution mechanisms that allow people to access civil justice and enforce their rights and responsibilities. This work includes providing advice on:

- our tribunals system, which helps resolve people's civil disputes
- regulation of the legal profession (we work closely with the New Zealand Law Society and other legal bodies), and
- policy and legislation which protects and promotes vulnerable people's rights.

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.

Both the Courts System Team and Access to Justice Team work closely with the judiciary and legal profession in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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.

The** Criminal law Team** maintains the integrity of the criminal legal system as it relates to investigating, preventing, and prosecuting crime. Our work is often high-profile and touches on matters of significant public interest. Recent work has focused on organised crime, counterterrorism, cybercrime, criminal proceeds recovery, and the legal framework supporting international cooperation in combatting cross-border offending.

**Ko wai mātou/**Who we are**

At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to working together for a fair and safe Aotearoa.

**Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.**

**He pūkenga tou / Skills and experience**
- **Relationship skills.** Do you have strong skills in engaging with diverse internal and external stakeholders, learning from their perspectives as well as influencing them?
- **Problem solving skills**. Can you think analytically and critically? Do you find complex problems interesting, and have a knack for solving them?
- **Communication 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?
- **Advisory skills.** Do you have knowledge of machinery of Government and public policy?

Policy Advisors (Level 2) in the Policy Group work with others to resolve complex and challenging issues.

The Justice Policy Group actively seeks a diverse applicant pool, with a variety of life experiences. An understanding of Te Āo Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi is particularly valuable.

**In return, we will**:

- prioritise your well-being and professional development
- empowers 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.

**Utu ā-tau/**Salary**

The appointing salary for this role will be between $81,128 and $112,887 based on skills and experience.

**Tono mai/How to Apply