Principal Advisor

Role overview

This position sits within the Office of the Deputy Secretary for Strategy in Wellington and plays a central advisory role in shaping decision-making for New Zealand’s justice system. The role is designed for someone who can simplify complex and uncertain issues, draw together work across the team, and support senior leaders to concentrate on the most important priorities.

As Principal Advisor, you will connect different workstreams, assess priorities, highlight risks, and ensure key initiatives continue to progress. The work requires strong judgement, evidence-based thinking, and the ability to advise on matters that affect justice outcomes across Aotearoa.

Key responsibilities

• Provide high-calibre strategic advice to the Deputy Secretary, Director, and other senior leaders.
• Manage responses to emerging issues, risks, and priority items.
• Translate data, research, and insight into practical and well-structured advice for decision-making.
• Oversee ministerial servicing, reporting, and OIA quality within the Office.
• Link planning, performance, and risk activities across the Strategy group.
• Guide and support advisors to improve consistency, quality, and capability.

Experience and skills needed

This role suits a confident and credible strategic adviser who is comfortable working closely with executive-level stakeholders in a complex environment.

• Extensive experience delivering strategic advice to senior leaders in large or complex organisations.
• Ability to work across organisational boundaries, connect related work, and influence outcomes at enterprise level.
• Strong knowledge of machinery-of-government processes, including ministerial servicing and wider public sector practice.
• Proven skill in turning research, evidence, and data into concise and persuasive advice.
• Leadership capability, including coaching others, influencing stakeholders, and raising team performance.
• Excellent relationship management and executive stakeholder engagement skills.
• Good judgement and the ability to manage ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• Experience supporting planning, reporting, and risk management activities.
• A clear commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the practical use of te ao Māori perspectives.

About the organisation

The Ministry of Justice is committed to strengthening public trust in the law. Within Ātea a Rangi, the Strategy group focuses on improving justice outcomes for Aotearoa by setting strategic direction and strengthening performance through planning, monitoring, and reporting.

The organisation describes itself as welcoming and supportive of people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities, and religions.

Benefits and working environment

• Four weeks of annual leave.
• Flexible working hours where possible.
• Access to an online professional development portal.
• Membership of inclusive and proactive networks.
• Opportunity to build varied skills and broaden career experience across a wide range of roles.

Salary

The offered salary range is between NZD 130,129 and NZD 179,192 per year, depending on skills and experience.

Application details

The closing date for applications is 5 July. Applications may be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may be arranged before the closing date. Applicants are asked to provide a CV and cover letter with an online application. For questions, the organisation has provided the contact email recruitment@justice.govt.nz.