Senior Adviser, Bilateral Relations

**Job Title**:Senior Adviser, Bilateral Relations & Trade (Southeast Asia)

**Role type**: Permanent, full-time

**Location**: Wellington City

**Salary range**: GSR Range E, $85,302 to $113,953 depending on skills and experience.
- (Salary midpoint for this position is $99,628 per annum)_
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**Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role**

We are seeking a Senior Adviser to join the Bilateral Relations & Trade team which sits within the Trade & International Relations Directorate of the Policy & Trade Branch. This is a Wellington based role, with the successful applicant starting from February 2025.

The work of a Bilateral Team is highly varied ranging from technical and trade negotiations, hosting audits and delegations, briefing Ministers, and senior leadership, as well as coordinating the MPI relationship with assigned countries across the whole range of MPI's initiatives. This is your opportunity to join a high performing collegial team spearheading the Government's drive to uplift our exports into South East Asia.
- As a Senior Adviser, you will be responsible for:_
- Providing advice and support for the development, maintenance and review of market access and official assurance requirements;
- Developing high quality briefings;
- Facilitating high level visits by Ministers and senior officials; and representing New Zealand in bilateral meetings;
- Identifying and reporting on trends and issues in the primary sector, including monitoring relevant developments in the international context;
- Assisting in dealing with specific market access issues, and border clearance problems;
- Providing technical clarifications, advice and interpretations, and manage stakeholder enquiries concerning market access;
- Creating and delivering effective communication strategies around Government initiatives and programmes;
- Developing and maintaining contact with relevant industry stakeholders to ensure their issues, questions and concerns are accurately recorded and dealt with.

**Mōu - About You**

We are ideally looking for someone with a policy and/or science background, looking to grow and develop in the international environment. Your ability to write clearly and concisely to produce high quality briefings and submissions, be comfortable with analysing data, and be an engaging team player is essential.

This role would suit an individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, within an internationally focused team who is dedicated to supporting New Zealand's primary sector exports.
- To be successful in this role, you will ideally be able to demonstrate:_
- Relevant experience as a policy analyst or in a strongly similar working environment.
- Technical knowledge of primary product and food export and related issues, and experience with food safety and/or biosecurity regulation
- Strong interpersonal skills: the ability to effectively engage with a wide range of persons from different cultures who have an interest and involvement in the primary sector.
- Ability to work in ambiguous environment, using your critical thinking to find solutions.
- Ability to organise, prioritise, and where applicable, delegate to efficiently accomplish tasks and meet objectives.
- Ability to travel within New Zealand, and internationally if required.
- Please note that as this position will require the use of an MPI vehicle on occasion, a full and clean _**_New Zealand drivers' licence_**_ is required. _

**Mō tō mātou Rōpū** - About the Team**

You will work with our Wellington based team, reporting to the Manager Bilateral Relations & Trade (Southeast Asia), and work alongside a team of experts including Market Access Counsellors, Specialist Advisers and a Senior Policy Analyst.

The team helps facilitate the sustainable growth of New Zealand's economy through strengthening relations with counterpart agencies in other countries. The team works with sectors across the primary industries to understand their needs and aspirations for trading their products and then assist them in reaching those goals in international markets.

The team also works closely with the wider Policy & Trade branch, government agencies and industry so there is ample opportunity to build meaningful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

**Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI**

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki - guardianship of our natural resources.

**Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI**
- Annual Wellness payment.
- Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes.
- Additional MPI leave days.

Benefits of working at MPI
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**Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru - Security checks**

**Low level Security Clearance**
- most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has **resided continuously in New Zealand **for at least the last **five (5) years**, OR
- is a citizen of, **and/or has resided continuously** in one or more of the following countries for t