Principal Advisor | Wellington Region

Job Description

Principal Advisor, Office of the Deputy Secretary – Strategy | Wellington Region

Te Haeata/The Opportunity

This is a high-trust advisory role at the centre of strategic decision-making for New Zealand's justice system.

As Principal Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary (Pou Whakatere) Strategy, you will turn complex issues into clear advice, connect work across the group, and help senior leaders focus on what matters most.

You will be the person who brings the threads together,  testing priorities, surfacing risks, joining up advice and keeping key work moving.

You will work across complex and often ambiguous issues, supporting senior leaders with clear advice grounded in evidence and insight, with a focus on improving justice outcomes for all.

You will:

• Lead high-quality strategic advice for the Deputy Secretary, Director, and senior leaders.
• Coordinate responses to emerging issues, risks and priority work.
• Turn data, research and insight into clear advice that supports decisions.
• Oversee ministerial servicing, reporting and OIA quality across the Office.
• Connect planning, performance and risk work across the Strategy group.
• Provide work leadership to advisors, lifting quality, consistency and capability.

Ō pūkenga/Skills and Experience

We are looking for a credible, strategic advisor who can work confidently with senior leaders.

You will bring:

• Significant experience providing strategic advice to senior leaders in complex organisations.
• The ability to operate at an enterprise level, connecting work across teams and influencing outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the machinery of government, including ministerial servicing and public sector processes.
• Proven ability to synthesise data, research and insights into clear, compelling advice that informs decisions.
• Strong leadership capability, including coaching, influencing, and lifting team performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging at executive level.
• Sound judgement and the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Experience coordinating planning, reporting, and risk management processes.
• A demonstrated commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi), and the ability to apply te ao Māori perspectives in practice.

Mō mātou/About us

At the Ministry of Justice (Te Tāhū o te Ture), we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law.

In Ātea a Rangi – Strategy group, we are focused on improving justice outcomes for Aotearoa through setting the strategic direction and driving performance through planning, performance monitoring and reporting.

Joining the Ministry of Justice (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.   

Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here

We offer you a range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be. These include:

• Four weeks' holiday leave.
• Flexible work hours where possible.
• An online professional development portal.
• Access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks.

See our full range of benefits here.

With a wide range of jobs, you also get the chance to gain a variety of skills and experience while developing your career.

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The appointing salary for this role will be between $130,129 and $179,192 based on skills and experience.

Tono mai/Apply

To apply, click the Apply button below to be directed to our Careers Website. You can view a detailed position description here, as well as complete an online application form by attaching your CV and cover letter.

Applications close on 5 July; however, we will be reviewing CVs as they come in and inviting successful candidates to interview before the close date.

If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@justice.govt.nz

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