Director - Policy

New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe. With over 13,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day. We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.

We’re working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver ‘Our Business’ and achieve long-term change.

Director, Policy and Partnerships
- Strategic, senior level leader of leaders role
- Lead and deliver the policy programme
- Advise the Minister of Police and the Police Executive

About the role

We are looking for a highly experienced Policy leader who will be responsible for leading a cross-cutting policy work programme that supports Police to achieve its vision to be the safest country.

The Policy and Partnerships Group provides advice to the Minister of Police and the Police Executive on public policy issues. The Director line manages five Policy Managers, who lead our policy teams: National Security & International Policy; Criminal Justice Policy; Transport and Health Policy, Prevention & Social Policy and Firearms Policy as well as our Chief Policy Advisor. The diversity of our business makes for a fascinating and challenging range of policy opportunities in the sectors we span. We also have strong relationships with our operational colleagues and seek to deliver practical and impactful advice that will make a real difference on the ground.

The Director provides policy leadership and a constant focus on quality and staff, team and group development and wellbeing. The Director also ensures our policy resource is transparently and flexibly aligned to changing demands and supports Police’s strategic direction. Much of our work is undertaken in partnership with other Government agencies and external partners and the Director must have the skills and capability to be an excellent partner.

As the Director, Policy and Partnerships you will have a reputation for strategic leadership with experience gained from working within a complex public sector policy or legislative environment. You will also have a proven track record of leading cross agency engagement at a senior level to effectively influence and encourage collaboration and decision-making.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Policy and Partnerships (who reports to the Commissioner of Police), the Director ensures that the organisation and external partners receive high quality, practical policy support. Success in this role is defined by the ability to take ownership of the challenges and opportunities that arise, to lead the policy leadership team and staff, to effectively influence internally and across Government and to support and develop the Policy and Partnerships Group.

**Key Accountabilities**:

- Building and enhancing the overall capability of the policy group to ensure quality advice.
- Leading a high-performing policy group through strong performance management, and maintaining a culture of development and collaboration.
- Provide leadership and direction for the Policy and Partnerships Group, senior Police managers and field staff.
- Ensuring policy services are delivered within a high quality customer service, Māori responsiveness, partnerships and community orientated policing framework.
- Exercises robust relationship management skills and drives cohesion across a complex stakeholder environment.
- Establishes and maintains constructive working relationships with central agencies, government agencies and other Australasian Policing agencies.
- Enhances internal systems and connectivity to ensure policy advice reflects evidence-based research, operational experience and Police data.
- Leads strategic policy and analysis, policy advice, and policy management services.
- Monitoring the police external and internal operating environment, identifying strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
- Ensuring that cabinet papers and submissions in are completed accordance with organisational, ministerial, Cabinet Office and consultation requirements.
- Provides effective leadership to the Policy Management Team and staff.

What you’ll bring

We are looking for an inclusive leader who takes responsibility for creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, feel valued and who enables others to give their best.

Being part of the Police whānau is about being our best to ensure our communities are safe and feel safe. Our Core Competencies provide a shared understanding of the behaviours, leadership and technical competence required for success at each level of Police. Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing