Main purpose of job:
This is a fascinating time to join the UK in New Zealand team during a period global uncertainties, challenges and opportunities. The bilateral relationship with New Zealand is a priority for the UK.
The UK in New Zealand’s (British High Commission in Wellington and Consulate-General in Auckland) work covers the full range of UK Government interests – political, trade, defence, science, economics, and consular policy. We operate in an exciting, fast-paced environment, working closely with New Zealand on a wide range of issues that reinforce our shared values and deliver on UK priorities such as growth and security.
You will be based in the British Consulate-General Auckland. The role provides broader political and economic expertise to inform wider UK in New Zealand policy considerations. The main focus areas of the role are:
You will be part of the Foreign and Security Policy Team that operates across the Auckland office and the High Commission in Wellington. You will develop knowledge of the NZ market, sectors, and government priorities, providing insight to policy development in Wellington, Auckland, and London. You will manage projects to achieve our economic policy goals and work with the wider policy teams to deliver relevant programmes for visitors. You will contribute to the team’s wider work through policy analysis, comms, and support the delivery of events in Auckland and Wellington that deliver UK priorities. You will support crisis planning and preparedness work in Auckland.
You will work closely across the Wellington High Commission and Auckland Consulate-General, and with Policy teams based in the UK, on all issues relating to economic growth. You will be expected to regularly travel to Wellington to meet New Zealand Government Departments and build your network. There will be some opportunity for further travel. You will be comfortable working with colleagues at distance and leading on work with limited supervision. You will be expected to proactively identify and respond to political and economic developments, build your networks, and be up to speed with the range of UK economic priorities.
You will join a small and friendly team. We welcome applicants who reflect New Zealand’s cultural and ethnic diversity. We aspire to reflect the bicultural nature of New Zealand.The UK in New Zealand is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. 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 UK in New Zealand sometimes responds to crises that affect the UK, New Zealand or the Pacific. At those times, you may be required to operate outside your usual role as part of our crisis team if we reprioritise and suspend some or all of our usual business. From time to time, you will be asked to host or attend events out of hours.
Roles and responsibilities:
Political and economic policy
External engagement
Foreign and Security Policy
Only candidates with the legal right to work in New Zealand will be considered.
Working patterns:
Flexible, to be completed between Monday – Friday, 08:45 – 17:00. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop a pattern of working that works best for you and the wider team. The BHC supports flexible working, including some working from home. There will be a requirement for occasional and limited out-of-hours work around major events and visits.
Appointment is subject to a 90-day trial period pursuant to section 67A of the Employment Relations Act 2000 and gaining and maintaining Posts security clearance requirements.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The role provides great opportunities to boost your all-round skills:
The UK in New Zealand has an active learning and development group which supports and promotes development opportunities for all staff.
Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen. We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined. Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality. 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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
