UNCLASSIFIED

Position Description

Position Title

Foreign Policy Officer

Reports To

Unit Manager / Divisional Manager in Wellington, Head of Mission overseas

Division

Policy Divisions in Wellington, New Zealand posts overseas

Group

A range of groups in the Ministry

Location

Wellington or an overseas post (new appointees will commence in Wellington)

Date Created/Updated

January 2017

______

About the Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) acts in the world to make New Zealand safer and more prosperous.

Our purpose is to create the international conditions and connections for NewZealand and New Zealanders to thrive.

Our work:

Kaitiakitanga

  • delivers solutions to global challenges, for the benefit of present and future generations;

Leadership

  • amplifies NewZealand’s influence and standing in the world;

Prosperity

  • delivers improved prosperity for NewZealand and our region;

Stability

  • delivers security and resilience to our country, our people, and our region.

Our values are professionalism, leadership, respect, collaboration and innovation.

The Ministry is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, including contractors and other workers, both on and offshore.

______

About the Position

This position is responsible for contributing to strong analytical and intellectual policy development and output in support of the government’s objectives for New Zealand’s international relations. Specifically, this position supports the achievement of the relevant division’s strategic priorities and high level outcomes as outlined under the role specific key accountabilities.

The Policy Officer will also undertake a programme focused primarily on learning on the job supported by a formal learning and development programme. They will assist with the provision of high quality policy advice and delivery.

Key Accountabilities

The following key accountabilities of this role assist in delivering the Ministry’s purpose:

  • Role specific
  • The role specific accountabilities will vary depending on the division and group.

  • Policy Development and Delivery
  • Gather information, analyse and report on multiple issues relevant to New Zealand interests, including providing recommended courses of action.
  • Produce drafts of evidence based policy advice, analysis and briefing, including formal messages, briefs, submissions, Cabinet papers and speech notes.
  • Assist in advocating New Zealand interests and positions to other governments and New Zealand government agencies and reporting on outcomes as appropriate.
  • Build specialised expertise and capability in the role.

  • Relationship Management
  • Develop and maintain key relationships both internally and externally in order to advance the division’s objectives.
  • Ministerial Servicing
  • Ensure input to the Ministerial and Executive Services Division is given the necessary priority and meets the high standard required.
  • Visits and Events
  • Work with other staff in the division and the Visits and Event Logistics Unit to assist with the provision of advice on policy objectives and visit programme targets for high level visits and events.
  • Assist with the escorting of visitors, taking notes, recording and reporting outcomes of visits and meetings and ensuring follow-up actions agreed with managers and post.

  • Organisational Responsibilities
  • Understand the Ministry’s strategic priorities and high-level outcomes framework and how this role contributes to the framework.
  • Understand and apply the strategic context in which the Ministry operates, including priorities and perspectives of the Ministers, partner agencies and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the preparation and reporting requirements of the Ministry’s accountability documents.
  • Understand tikanga and Treaty of Waitangi principles and have sufficient appreciation of Te Reo Māorito be able to apply the Ministry Māori dimension, underpinned by Ministry values, in a way that is relevant to the context of our business.
  • Using the Ministry’s Capability and Leadership Frameworks, identify and participate in opportunities for learning and development, including through regular coaching and mentoring.
  • Identify and pursue opportunities to build specialised skills, knowledge and experience aligned with the Ministry’s Strategic Framework.
  • Contribute to Ministry-wide projects and emergency response situations.
  • All other duties as requested by the employer.
  • Leadership
  • Contribute to the division’s delivery of its planned and agreed activity stream to realise its strategic priorities and high level outcomes.
  • Demonstrate the organisation’s values, goals, policies and procedures in all aspects of work.
  • Understanding of Government and the Public Service
  • Develop on understanding of the Machinery of Government, including the Ministry’s relationship with Ministers and other government agencies.
  • Knowledge Management
  • Contribute to the continuous development of the Ministry’s knowledge base by using the Ministry’s internal systems, sharing information and data with relevant internal stakeholders.
  • Health and Safety
  • Take reasonable care of own and others’ health and safety and be mindful of the effect of actions (or lack of action) on the health and safety of others.
  • Comply with health and safety policies and procedures and with reasonable Ministry instructions to ensure the Ministry is able to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
  • Identify and report hazards, injuries, illness and incidents (including near misses) that arise from work or in the workplace.
  • Identify and eliminate or mitigate health and safety risks so far as reasonably practicable and consult with others in doing so.
  • Raise health and safety matters with management or health and safety representatives (or contact as appropriate).
  • Ensure that all health and safety incidents, injuries, near misses are immediately reported through the HR Kiosk.
  • Ensure that significant hazards and risks or critical incidents are drawn to the immediate attention of the Ministry.

Qualifications, Skills, knowledge & experience

The following are required:

Qualifications

  • Tertiary qualification preferably at post-graduate level or conjoint/double undergraduate degree.

Skills

  • Proven ability to communicate at a highly effective level, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrated ability to build rapport with a range of people and build effective and collegial work relationships within a team.
  • Demonstrated ability to respectfully and sensitively work with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, or those with differing values and beliefs.
  • Sound judgement and decision making supported by well developed qualitative and quantitative analysis skills.
  • Ability to plan and organise own workload and prioritise effectively, even when under pressure, to ensure successful delivery of tasks, responsibilities and objectives.
  • Basic understanding of tikanga and Treaty of Waitangi principles and a sensitivity and appreciation of EEO issues.
  • Competent in Microsoft Office suite of products.

Relationships

The position is required to build and maintain the following relationships:

Internal

  • Divisional and/or unit manager.
  • Senior advisors/advisers within division/unit.
  • Division staff.
  • Other MFAT staff, both onshore and offshore.

External

  • Other government departments and agencies.
  • Diplomatic missions.
  • Media and other members of the public.
  • Business, academia, regional and international institutions and Māori.

Mandatory Role Requirements

  • You must be able to obtain and maintain an appropriate New Zealand Government Security clearance.
  • You must hold New Zealand citizenship.

Page 1 of 4