Kaitātari Matua | Senior Analyst - System Oversight | Flexible

Job Description

• Fixed Term / Secondment until June 2026

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

The System Oversight team is focused on stewardship of the current environmental management system. Largely focused on the performance of councils, the team's functions include:

• Monitoring the system
• Interpreting legislation and regulation
• Advising on the use of powers where the intent of policies isn't being met
• Delivering on statutory functions
• Responding to a significant amount of Ministerial correspondence and Official Information Act (OIA) requests.

This role will require the successful applicant to be agile, with the requirement for the role to switch between multiple subject areas to provide resource in surging workstreams. Expected areas of focus would be:

1)      Lead or co-lead work in the team's planning function: This mahi includes providing advice to Ministers on council plans and plan changes, supporting the resource management reform transformation, advising the Minister for the Environment on applications for an exemption to the current pause on notifying freshwater planning instruments, supporting RMA litigation matters, and providing advice on and support to other resource management issues.

2)      Delivery of the team's statutory functions: Includes applications to become a requiring authority, time extensions, the streamlined planning process, and providing advice to the Minister for the Environment on applications to the Fast Track Approvals Act 2024 (FTAA). The role will also draft responses to Ministerial correspondence and OIAs.

The role would suit a planner who has worked in either policy or consents planning, and an individual capable of providing technical leadership to the wider team alongside principals/leadership team.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

• This is a technical role and would ideally require a planner with an in-depth understanding of and experience with the RMA, particularly as is related to local government.
• Proven ability to review and synthesise information, and draw inference about the alignment of applications and council plans with legislation.
• Strong understanding of consenting and plan making, ability to draft advice, correspondence, OIA responses, and assist with advice for Ministers.
• Strong written skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Organised and comfortable with strict deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt in a fast-changing, reactive landscape. 
• A willingness to adopt continuous improvement (i.e reflect on what has worked, what hasn't and what the lessons are in a constructive way) and take on the ideas of others.

Whānuitanga Utu ā-Tau | Salary range  

Salary range for this role is $108,976 to $132,277 pa.  Appointment within this range will be based on skills and experience.  

Ngā hua ka puta i te mahi ki MfE | Benefits of working at MfE  

• a flexible working approach to embrace a healthy work-life blend 
• agile ways of working, allowing you variety and challenges across the organisation as we work as ‘One MfE' 
• active employee networks including Māori Rōpū, Asian Network, Neurodivergent and Disability Networks, Women's Network, Tagata Moana (Pacific Peoples' Network), and Rainbow Network 
• opportunities for development and education.           

Check out other benefits of joining us and hear what our people say about Working at MfE | Ministry for the Environment.  

Tono ināianei | Apply now  

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and cover letter.  Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.     

If you require further information about this position please contact michael.paterson@mfe.govt.nz.  The position description is available via our careers centre www.mfe.govt.nz/jobs.  

The location for this role is flexible which means you can work anywhere in New Zealand and there is an option to work from home.  As a flexible friendly employer, we are happy to discuss solutions that may work for you and the business.  We value and care about enabling our people to work in a way that means they can work at their best.   

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and actively strive to be a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture.  We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.  We are proud to be a Rainbow Tick and Gender Tick certified organisation and are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.   

We want to ensure any accessibility needs you may have are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all.  Therefore, please let us know if there are any adjustments or support we can offer to make the recruitment process more accessible to you.  Please contact us at vacancy@mfe.govt.nz if you would like to discuss any accessibility needs you may have.  

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.  

Rā Katinga | Applications close:   Monday 26th May 2025. Please apply asap as we will look to start interviewing as applications are receieved