Senior Advisor, Operational Policy

Senior Policy Advisor, Operational Policy
Wellington-Based 24-month fixed Term Role
- Help shape the future of New Zealand's emergency management system.
- Use your operational policy skills to develop and implement government policy.
- Provide policy advice to government during and after emergencies.

We have an exciting role for a critical thinker who can deliver high quality operational policy analysis and advice, including on regulations and standards, working with our partners across the emergency management sector.
Ko wai mātou | About us
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system as a whole, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery.
NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives. We support flexible ways of working that bring out the best in you.
We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day to day work, values and practices.
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role
You will be part of NEMA's Policy Unit which provides emergency management-related policy advice to government, the emergency management sector, and wider national security system.
The Policy Unit has a Strategic Policy Team and an Operational Policy Team. You will be housed in the Operational Policy Team and primarily work on operational policy issues. However, a flexible approach is critical to working in our small unit. Depending on your skills and experience, career goals, and government priorities, you may work on projects across the Unit.
The Policy Unit is part of an evolving phase of change and investment in the emergency management system. You will initially help progress an Emergency Management Bill, reporting to a Bill Project Lead.
NEMA is also embarking on an ambitious journey to strengthen its regulatory and assurance function to ensure that the emergency management system is operating as intended. This will involve analysis and advice on regulations and standards, and managing the machinery of government processes to establish them.
Your role would also include providing day-to-day operational policy advice to the Minister, the NEMA Executive and operational teams in NEMA, on existing emergency management policy and legislation. You will also analyse and coordinate second opinion advice on the policy work of other agencies which impacts on NEMA's operational roles.
As NEMA is an operational agency, there may be a requirement to respond to emergency activations in the event of a national emergency response. This may include potentially long hours and challenging working conditions, e.g. an emergency could occur at any time of the day or night and may require working shifts and/or working weekends. NEMA provides thorough training prior to you being required to assist in a response. NEMA will do all in its power to support staff in meeting their work and family responsibilities during an emergency. The welfare and wellbeing of our staff is of upmost importance.
Due to the nature of our role in Emergency Management, NEMA has a very dynamic work environment and as a small agency, staff are often required to pivot and change focus on their work at short notice. Attributes of adaptability, agility, resilience and curiosity are all required on a daily basis, in and out of times of emergency response.
Ko wai koe | About you
- Proven experience scoping and leading operational policy projects and development of operational policy using relevant policy frameworks and analytical tools to analyse issues and develop advice.
- Experience in regulatory design and developing secondary legislation, and using related machinery of government processes.
- Ability to think strategically about issues using systems-thinking approaches when developing policy advice.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, including an ability to proactively build and leverage collaborative internal and external stakeholder relationships.
- Excellent writing skills to present complex ideas so they can be easily understood.
- Ability to take initiative, work autonomously and adapt in quick changing circumstances to deliver high quality work under pressure.
- A high standard of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
- An existing understanding of emergency management, national security, and/or risk management is desirable but not essential.

Ta matou e tuku | What we offer
We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence