Senior Policy Analyst

We have three permanent senior policy analyst roles working across highly valued social sector policy. These roles are joining a highly collaborative team and a supportive manager with a wellbeing first approach.

The Senior Policy Analyst will lead the development of high-quality advice for Ministers on complex policy issues in assigned areas, including regulatory process and designing robust regulatory regimes. This may involve managing policy projects and oversight of associated staff, developing sound frameworks, leading policy development processes. As a leader within the policy community the Senior Policy Analyst will provide support and coaching to other staff. (We are also open to speaking with analysts/advisors who are looking for a step up into a senior analyst role).

Key Accountabilities for the Senior Policy Analyst are:

Policy analysis and Leadership

• Lead and undertakes analysis on a broad range of education policy issues involving complexity, potential conflict and sensitivity, including where the issue and scope of work may be ambiguous or not well[1]defined:

• Responsible for the production of in-depth, rigorous and high-quality policy research and analysis on a wide range of education policies, including legislation.

• Utilise analytical frameworks and tools to support the development of policy advice.

• Develop high quality policy advice for Ministers on complex policy issues within the requested timeframes.

• Thinks laterally about options and contribute to the development of new areas of policy analysis and development.

• Contribute to the strategic direction setting and the identification of new work areas and priorities for policy analysis, evaluation and research, taking into account the Ministry's directions, the Government's policy objectives, and emerging issues.

• Effectively supervise junior staff and provide overview and direction to the work of others.

• Actively participate in, and influence, the development of joint policy direction with other government agencies, including taking leadership responsibilities where appropriate.

Policy Implementation

• Leads cross-ministry policy work so that implementation advice is appropriately included in policy development.

• Influences and builds constructive, collaborative working relationships with policy implementation groups in the Ministry and with delivery partners.

• Translates between policy objectives and implementation approaches so that there is both strategic and operational advice incorporated in the development of significant new policy initiatives.

• Provides on-going advice, support and monitoring of the policy intent into implementation and resolve any identified policy issues.

• Contributes to effective monitoring and programme evaluation to inform policy advice.

Ministerial Servicing

• Prepares ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary questions, briefing notes, speech notes, Official Information Act requests, Cabinet papers and reports.

• Effectively represents the Ministry at senior official and ministerial levels including Cabinet Committees, Select Committees as required. Project Planning and Management

• Leads multiple complex policy projects, including the supervision of project team members, or programmes of work to deliver on the Ministry's outcomes and address Māori education success.

• Manages progress using the Ministry's systems and processes for monitoring, measuring, reporting, risk identification and management, and quality assurance.

• Actively contributes to the quality control of policy advice and other work through regular participation in Page 3 of 4 peer review, policy appraisal and discussion of issues.

Relationship Management

• Engages with other areas within the Ministry to manage, influence the policy agenda or specific policy issues.

• Through strong working relationships, influence, collaborate and leverage key government agencies to drive effective leadership of cross-government programmes results.

• Leads and influences complex and multiple relationships to take full advantage of the perspectives of external stakeholders.

• Provides individual support and coaching to Policy Analysts in the team/project to share own experience and challenge analysts' thinking. Information and Communications

• Keeps managers well informed of progress on work tasks, emerging issues, and difficulties.

• Communication and consultation with internal and external stakeholders. Giving effect to Ka Hikitia –Managing for Success

• Actively contributes to lifting education system performance for Māori learners through Ministry investment, policies, practices and services.

• Through the Ministry's competencies, develop the personal confidence, capability and ability to understand why, where and how to focus work to get the best outcomes for Māori learners. You will make decisions in accordance with the Ministry's policies and delegations framework.

Experience

To be successful in this role you will have the following experience:

• Tertiary qualification in public policy, education, economics, law or other relevant disciplines or equivalent experience.

• Demonstrated expertise in leading public policy analysis, and the provision of advice to governments on complex education, other social policy, economic, regulatory issue or related fields.

• Experience in using a range of alternative analytical techniques appropriately.

• Awareness of, and sensitivity to, the cultural values and particular needs of Māori. An understanding of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and their implications for the work of policy development is essential.

• Thorough understanding of New Zealand's machinery of government and legislative processes, preferably including Budget decision making, and Cabinet processes.

• Understanding of New Zealand's political, economic, cultural and social structures.

We are looking for candidates who are able to work in the Wellington CBD office 2-5 days per week (you must be located in the greater Wellington region).

For enquiries, please email your CV in Word Format to and reference Job #MT6462. For a confidential conversation please contact Marissa Taylor,