The Ministry for the Environment is looking for the country’s best policy practitioners.

The Ministry’s objective is to be government’s primary policy adviser on the environment and economy. The Ministry wants to be respected for the depth, innovation and quality of its policy advice, and be a Ministry which governments and others turn to as their first stop for ways to approach difficult, complex and emerging issues.

The policy issues the Ministry needs to deliver on have grown in priority and complexity, a trend that is set to continue. Many of these challenges are new, and require a complex, multi-faceted approach. As a result, the Ministry has undergone a major revision of its policy function to ensure it can lead policy debate on major challenges, such as climate change, water policy, and land use.

To take the Ministry forward, it is seeking a full spectrum of policy analysts, from entry-level to experienced, well-regarded senior people. The Ministry needs policy staff with excellent interpersonal and analytical skills, and strong written and oral communication skills—people who identify as policy practitioners first and foremost and who are committed to developing their policy expertise.

This is an opportunity to work in a Ministry that has a key role to play in shaping the way New Zealand manages its natural resources, and their contribution to the country’s economic growth.

Senior Policy Analysts

Lead the development and delivery of advice on complex issues in this challenging policy space. As a Senior Policy Analyst, you may work across multiple policy development projects, in a range of roles, in response to demands and your career development needs and aspirations.

You will need strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within your team, and mentor and coach more junior staff to develop their policy skills. Ideally you will have a minimum of five years in a policy role, with in-depth experience of policy processes, be comfortable working with ambiguity, confident engaging with stakeholders throughout the policy process and be able to apply project management principles to policy projects..

A variety of work and responsibilities will support your professional development and advancement toward principal analyst or management roles.

Policy Analysts

Work across multiple policy projects to increase your breadth of experience and skills. You may be an experienced analyst or a recent graduate—but you must be flexible, self-motivated, with talent and a drive to succeed.

As a Policy Analyst, you will be working as a core member of a policy team, to provide high quality policy advice to the Minister. You will be exposed to a range of policy tasks, and work across different subject areas in the Ministry’s work programme. .

Policy analysis is a craft best learned by working alongside more senior analysts. Your career will develop through coaching and on-the-job learning in accordance with the Ministry’s apprenticeship model.

Contact us

We are eager to hear from policy professionals looking to take the next step in their career with a dedicated, evolving organisation. To find out more about these opportunities, contact Kirsty Bidwell on 04 915 1472 or write to mfe@thejohnsongroup.co.nz.

You can download full job descriptions and application forms from our recruitment portal at http://thejohnsongroup.co.nz/content/mfe-recruitment.

Please note, the Ministry for the Environment application form is required as part of the application process and must be filled out and provided along with your resume and cover letter.

Vacancy No.: 1984