View Vacancy - NZW - Senior Political Adviser, B3(L)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Political

Main purpose of job:

This is a fascinating time to join the UK in New Zealand whānau at a time of unprecedented global challenges and opportunities. The Senior Political Adviser leads on domestic policy work for the British High Commission (BHC) and the British Consulate Auckland (BCG) – the UK in New Zealand network – and is a key enabler of the UK in New Zealand Country Plan. 

The four key parts of the role are: 

  1. Political Expertise. The jobholder will be the expert on New Zealand domestic politics and policies and will apply their knowledge in support of wider UK and NZ goals. 
  2. Parliamentary engagement. The jobholder will own and drive the BHC’s parliamentary engagement, building a core network of Parliamentarians/MPs and enabling colleagues to develop their own. They will also own and deliver BHC events in support of Parliamentary relations. 
  3. Domestic policy analysis and engagement. The jobholder will drive the UK in NZ’s domestic policy strategy and engagement creating enduring people to people and policy links on domestic policy between the UK and NZ.  This will include leading on international and multilateral angles of domestic policy, eg health, education and engaging the New Zealand Government and other stakeholders.
  4. Management. The jobholder will manage the Domestic Policy team, including a Political Officer in Auckland, with performance, development, and pastoral line management responsibilities. The jobholder is also responsible for administering the Domestic Team budget for travel, hospitality and events.

You will join a small and friendly team and enjoy working as part of the wider High Commission team, and be able to manage the challenges of working remotely with colleagues in Auckland and London.  Equally you will be comfortable  leading on work with limited supervision.

The diversity of our workforce is one of our greatest strengths. The British High Commission is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

The jobholder may be required to operate outside of their role should there be a crisis affecting the UK and NZ such as a natural disaster which requires the British High Commission to suspend some or all of usual business.

Roles and responsibilities:

Political Expertise. 

  • To be the primary source of expertise on NZ domestic politics and policies in the UK in NZ network. 
  • Provide advice to colleagues to deepen their understanding of the UK and NZ relationship and support of wider UK and NZ objectives.

Parliamentary engagement. 

  • Develop and drive forward the UK in NZ annual parliamentary engagement strategy. 
  • Develop and manage a broad network of contacts in the UK and New Zealand including: Ministerial offices, parliamentarians, core government agencies, policymakers, and political and economic opinion-makers. 
  • Lead on and deliver BHC events in support of Parliamentary engagement, such as receptions, visits, meetings and phone calls.

Domestic policy analysis and engagement. 

  • Identify and create opportunities to establish high-level connections between the UK and New Zealand with a view to enable sharing of, or collaboration on, best policy practice. 
  • Write ad hoc reports for an internal and senior audience on significant political and economic developments. 
  • Lead on international and multilateral angles of domestic policy, eg health, education, and engaging the New Zealand Government and other stakeholders.

Management. 

  • Manage the team and individual performance in line with the BHC/BCG ethos and policies to help individuals and the team reach their potential and deliver the Country Plan. 
  • Administer the Domestic Policy budget for travel and hospitality.

Resources managed:

Management of the Domestic Policy Team comprised of:

  • Political Team Officer in Auckland
  • Political Team Officer in Wellington
  • Administer Domestic Policy budget for travel and hospitality
  • A minimum of five years relevant work experience 
  • An aptitude for political, economic and policy analysis
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills  
  • A sound understanding of the New Zealand politics and system of government  
  • Strong relationship management skills
  • Existing political network
  • A working knowledge of Te Reo and Tikanga Māori would be an advantage 
  • Prior line management experience
  • Budget management
14 June 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Asia Pacific
New Zealand
Wellington
British High Commission
1
NZD
85,000 - 93,000 per annum
12 July 2021

The role provides great opportunities to boost your all-round skills.  You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of political issues and diplomacy.  You will have opportunities to play a leading role in senior visits and in high-profile crisis management work. There are plenty of opportunities for wider learning and development, including exposure to different kinds of work and for engaging with a variety of London teams.  The High Commission also has an active learning and development group, including Te Reo Māori classes.

Working from home or remotely once or twice a week would be operationally suitable and supported. Some flexibility will be required to flex to events or workloads. 

Appointment is subject to a 90 day trial period and gaining and maintaining Posts security clearance requirements.

Open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and partners/dependents of UK-based diplomatic staff currently posted in New Zealand. Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Candidates must have or be able to obtain work authorisation for New Zealand in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local New Zealand employment law.  Only short-listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process.

For more information on the work of the British High Commission, visit our website - http://www.gov.uk/government/world/new-zealand.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.