Senior Advisor

Senior Advisor

Ministerial and Executive Services | Enabling Services

Wellington

Fixed Term up to 12 months for parental leave cover.

Salary range: $108,003 to $144,406

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Advisor to join our Ministerial and Executive Services team at the Public Service Commission.

This fixed-term role provides high-quality ministerial services to the Commission and its stakeholders. It is also the Commission's key liaison point with the Office of the Minister for the Public Service and Digitising Government, requiring sound judgement and oversight of complex and sensitive requests.

The Public Service Commission Te Kawa Mataaho leads the public sector to make a positive difference for New Zealand and New Zealanders. As the agency that houses the Office of the Head of the Public Service, we set direction, role model good practice, and lead the system to deliver the results and services that matter.

Our purpose is to lead the State services while protecting and strengthening the standards of integrity and conduct at the heart of public service. Working with us means joining a small, agile team with big ambition. We encourage our people to push boundaries, strive for better, and support colleagues across agencies to do the same.

This position sits within the Enabling Services group which supports the Commission to deliver and perform at its best. The group provides a range of corporate services including information technology, human resources, finance, property, planning and reporting, risk, and assurance.

This is a great opportunity to join a close, supportive, and high-performing team where you can broaden your experience, grow your career, and showcase your skills and potential.

To be successful in this role you will:

• Be a senior-level advisor who has strong experience working in a Ministerial Services team, minister's office, or chief executive's office, and is comfortable providing advice to senior leaders
• Be a team player who enjoys supporting and mentoring more junior staff, with a willingness to step up and lead the team when needed
• Be a self-starter, organised, and enthusiastic
• Be able to influence and inspire those around you
• Be able to build strong effective relationships with the Commission teams
• Be able to lead the development of innovative and progressive practice across all aspects of then Ministerial and Executive Services team responsibilities, including identifying opportunities to improve performance and training
• Have a flexible and adaptable approach to work and comfortable working in an environment of continuous improvement
• Have experience leading ministerial and parliamentary correspondence and questions, including Written and Oral Parliamentary Questions, and material for select committees
• Have a deep understanding of the Official Information Act (OIA) and experience handling complex and sensitive information
• Be able to maintain a high standard of work for both yourself and the team

This role will suit an experienced Senior Adviser who is a confident and quick-learner, with strong collaboration skills, and an enthusiastic and flexible mind-set.

We offer a friendly, supportive and flexible working environment with varied and meaningful work.

Important information

We believe in a diverse and inclusive Public Service which reflects the communities that we serve. You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this job. Talk to us about what flexible work arrangements might work for both you and us.

Salary

The full salary range for the band is $108,003 to $144,460. We typically look to appoint to role between $108,003 to $131,551, depending on skills and experience.

How to apply

If you would like to discuss this role, please contact Nicky Dirks, Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services.

In your cover letter we'd like to know:

• about you and your values
• your interest and motivations for this role
• the abilities, strengths, personal attributes, and diverse perspectives you would bring to the role and our organisation.

Requirements

To be appointed to this position, you must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance you must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, your application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool (process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool) to self-check your eligibility for a clearance. Please note that this tool is indicative only, and initiation of a formal security clearance will be undertaken prior to any appointment.

Please note that all applicants are required to apply via jobs.govt.nz. You will need a RealMe account to apply.

If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you must hold current eligibility to work in New Zealand and for Te Kawa Mataaho. Please refer to the New Zealand Immigration Service for further information.

If you have any login issues, please contact [email protected] immediately for support.

Job ad open for applications on 7 August 2026

Please submit your application by or on: 23/08/2026