Principal Data Analyst | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Principal Data Analyst

Role type: Fixed Term until June 2026

Location: Wellington City

General Salary Range C: $117,035 to $156,888 depending on skills and experience.

(Salary midpoint for this position is $136,961 per annum)

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Data Analyst to join our Programmes and Planning directorate. Sitting within our Policy & Trade group, this directorate is home to MPI's key agriculture and climate change investment and implementation programmes. This is a full-time fixed term position until June 2026.

The Ministry has established a small, adaptive, and focussed delivery team that is responsible for leading the standardisation of emissions calculation practices across the agricultural sector – including development and maintenance of a farm-level emissions estimation methodology and facilitating adoption by emissions calculators.

The benefits of alignment to a government-backed, transparent and scientifically robust emissions estimation method include de-risked international engagement by processors; simplified and more stable farm reporting (leading to better farm planning and investment); and increased innovation in farmer support tools planning and reporting tools.

As part of this role, you will:

• Take the role as Product owner of the farm-level agricultural Green House Gas (GHG) emissions estimation methodology ensuring that it is logically structured, well aligned to inventory and other comparable models.
• Jointly lead engagement with internal and external sector and science experts and a Technical Advisory Group (or similar body) to prioritise enhancements to the farm-level methodology, including methodological improvements and better input data.
• Advise on research priorities related to the measurement and estimation of agricultural emissions, and the development of a long-term research strategy.
• Develop implementation approaches for methodological enhancements and coding them in ‘R.'
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and advice to colleagues to ensure they develop skills, learn from experiences, and successfully deliver projects.

Mōu - About You

To be successful in this role, you'll have a passion for data and climate change, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in quantitative analysis or in a strongly similar working environment.

You'll be a thought-leader who is comfortable drawing insights from quantitative and qualitative information, is sharp with data, and someone who can distil information into relevant, narrative-rich analysis and advice.

Your strong collaboration and communication skills will help you build lasting networks across government and the primary sector, with a focus on mentoring and guiding the development of junior staff to build capability within the team. You will challenge conventional norms and use strategic thinking and analytical skills to transform the way information is collected, used, and shared.

 To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant experience in a highly similar working environment; or extensive experience in quantitative analysis and coding (R, shiny).
• Strong analytical ability: a capacity to gather and manage data and turn this into information and infographics;
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships across a range of groups and individuals with potentially conflicting interests;
• Ability to provide specialist knowledge and experience in a manner that is easily understood by a range of audiences;
• Mentoring and training skills to enable staff growth and development;
• Ability to work in an agile and changing environment.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team  

Policy and Trade provides sector-level strategic thinking and evidence-based advice for effective government decision-making for systems related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biosecurity, food, animal welfare and rural communities. Our people are our greatest resource. They are collaborative, supportive, passionate, and are highly skilled in a range of economic, science and social disciplines.

This is a Wellington based role working alongside a team that brings a mix of industry knowledge, machinery of government experience and promotes strategic thinking. The team has a collaborative working style so that everyone feels supported in contributing to their collective goals.

The team also works closely with the Policy & Trade business unit, wider organisation, and industry bodies, so there is a chance to build meaningful relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua - About MPI

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? - Are you ready to make a difference?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at midnight on Monday 2 December.

If you have any questions about the role, please email Louise.Devine@mpi.govt.nz 

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