Senior Adviser, Bilateral Relations & Trade | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Adviser, Bilateral Relations & Trade (Southeast Asia)

Role type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Wellington City

Salary range: GSR Range E, $85,302 to $113,953 depending on skills and experience.

(Salary midpoint for this position is $99,628 per annum)

Kōrero mō te Tūranga - About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Adviser to join the Bilateral Relations & Trade team which sits within the Trade & International Relations Directorate of the Policy & Trade Branch. This is a Wellington based role, with the successful applicant starting from February 2025.

The work of a Bilateral Team is highly varied ranging from technical and trade negotiations, hosting audits and delegations, briefing Ministers, and senior leadership, as well as coordinating the MPI relationship with assigned countries across the whole range of MPI's initiatives. This is your opportunity to join a high performing collegial team spearheading the Government's drive to uplift our exports into South East Asia.

As a Senior Adviser, you will be responsible for:

• Providing advice and support for the development, maintenance and review of market access and official assurance requirements;
• Developing high quality briefings;
• Facilitating high level visits by Ministers and senior officials; and representing New Zealand in bilateral meetings;
• Identifying and reporting on trends and issues in the primary sector, including monitoring relevant developments in the international context;
• Assisting in dealing with specific market access issues, and border clearance problems;
• Providing technical clarifications, advice and interpretations, and manage stakeholder enquiries concerning market access;
• Creating and delivering effective communication strategies around Government initiatives and programmes;
• Developing and maintaining contact with relevant industry stakeholders to ensure their issues, questions and concerns are accurately recorded and dealt with.

Mōu - About You

We are ideally looking for someone with a policy and/or science background, looking to grow and develop in the international environment. Your ability to write clearly and concisely to produce high quality briefings and submissions, be comfortable with analysing data, and be an engaging team player is essential. 

This role would suit an individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, within an internationally focused team who is dedicated to supporting New Zealand's primary sector exports.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal communication, a solution focussed approach, and a proven ability to forge effective partnerships. You will draw on your experience to facilitate engagement processes and to effectively present complex information to different groups.

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

• Relevant experience as a policy analyst or in a strongly similar working environment.
• Technical knowledge of primary product and food export and related issues, and experience with food safety and/or biosecurity regulation
• Ability to apply an analytical framework and quickly understand the nature of export issues and problems, identify a range of possible solutions (including their implications), form conclusions and provide advice.
• Strong interpersonal skills: the ability to effectively engage with a wide range of persons from different cultures who have an interest and involvement in the primary sector.
• Ability to work in ambiguous environment, using your critical thinking to find solutions.
• Ability to organise, prioritise, and where applicable, delegate to efficiently accomplish tasks and meet objectives.
• Ability to travel within New Zealand, and internationally if required.

Please note that as this position will require the use of an MPI vehicle on occasion, a full and clean New Zealand drivers' licence is required.

Mō tō mātou Rōpū - About the Team   

You will work with our Wellington based team, reporting to the Manager Bilateral Relations & Trade (Southeast Asia), and work alongside a team of experts including Market Access Counsellors, Specialist Advisers and a Senior Policy Analyst.

The team helps facilitate the sustainable growth of New Zealand's economy through strengthening relations with counterpart agencies in other countries. The team works with sectors across the primary industries to understand their needs and aspirations for trading their products and then assist them in reaching those goals in international markets.

The team also works closely with the wider Policy & Trade branch, government agencies and industry so there is ample opportunity to build meaningful relationships with 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.

Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua - Benefits of working at MPI

• Annual Wellness payment.
• Reduced premiums for Group Healthcare Schemes.
• Additional MPI leave days.

Benefits of working at MPI

Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru - Security checks

Low level Security Clearance

• most preferably a New Zealand citizen, who has resided continuously in New Zealand for at least the last five (5) years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
• click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

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 Sunday 1 December.

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

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