Principal Adviser Organisational Performance | Wellington City

Job Description

Principal Adviser Organisational Performance 

Role type: Permanent  

Location: Wellington  

Salary band & range: General Salary Range C $119,376 to $160,026 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga  

We are looking for an experienced organisational performance professional to join our Strategy, Governance and Performance Directorate. The ideal candidate is experienced with the machinery of government (including the estimates of appropriation processes and annual report production) and is a strategic thinker who can make linkages to the implementation of our strategic intentions and our strategic plan. There are opportunities to bring ideas and innovation while taking a pragmatic approach to what is achievable in the current context. 

Alongside highly desired technical skills and strategic thought leadership, we are looking for a team member who has strong interpersonal skills and has experience engaging with a wide range of internal and external customers (e.g. Office of the Auditor General, the Treasury, external auditors) to build lasting relationships. 

This role demands an appreciation of the dynamics of working in a public sector environment, where relationships and influence matter. You'll need the judgment to know when to push an issue forward and when to step back, balancing strategic priorities with organisational realities. Success in this role is about shaping strategy, governance, and performance in a way that builds trust and confidence across MPI.

About You - Mōu 

Behaviours and interpersonal skills 

• Open – being receptive to the ideas of others, knowing that there is more than one way to get things done, and working in this way even when under pressure. 

• Agile – being prepared to change tack and remain flexible in everything we do 

• Engaging - building and maintaining trust in MPI starts by engaging with our colleagues, stakeholders, partners and customers, in a warm and empathetic way, taking off the expert mantle and genuinely listening to understand the situations of others. 

• Proactive - looking ahead to anticipate challenges and opportunities and move towards them, engage with them, and effectively manage and make the most of them. 

• Ability to influence without having direct authority. 

• Ability to provide advice based on insights-driven analysis to support robust decision-making processes. 

• Ability to mentor the team and support junior staff 

• Ability to engage with a broad range of relevant internal and external customers to clearly provide advice on performance matters while building relationships. 

Technical skills 

• Highly desired – PuMP certification or strong experience of PuMP or other performance framework and measurement development methodology. 

• Highly desired – Sound knowledge and understanding of the Machinery of Government and accountability requirements including the Estimates of Appropriation and Annual Report processes. 

• Experience developing and enhancing frameworks, processes, performance measurement and reporting both internally and within the public sector. 

• Ability to provide advice that supports robust decision-making processes. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Ability to quickly understand complex processes and use critical thinking to drive creative solutions. 

• Proven ability to plan, prioritise and organise your workload to ensure that deadlines are met, and work is delivered to an agreed standard. 

While you do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply, the ideal candidate will have significant experience in the skills outlined. 

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū 

Our MPI working styles are open, agile, engaging and proactive. These embody how we work together in a team, directorate and across the organisation. 

The Organisational Performance team is responsible for delivering MPI's Annual Report, organisational reporting, and guiding MPI's approach to performance through an organisational performance framework. The team works closely with the Strategy and Planning team to ensure that MPI can demonstrate the value of our services, and progress against our Strategic Intentions and the Strategic Plan. 

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua 

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.  

To find out more about the Ministry and what we do please click here. 

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames

Security checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru 

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. 

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?  
 
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” 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 11:59pm on Wednesday 19 November 2025. 

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

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