Policy Advisor | Flexible

Job Description

Mō te tūranga mahi | About the role   

Are you looking to work on policy which has a tangible difference? Then this is the team for you. We are looking for a policy advisor to join our Waste Sector Policy team to work on reducing emissions from organic waste on a fixed term basis until 26 June 2026.

Our team is focused on supporting and working with the sector to develop policy which:

• lowers waste emissions - this includes biogenic methane from organic waste and f-gases from industrial processing.
• reduces construction and demolition waste going to landfills.

The Waste Sector Policy team is responsible for:

• Delivering this Government's priorities and implementing the actions outlined in the soon to be published second Emissions Reduction Plan
• Providing high quality policy advice and analysis to Ministers
• Leading the development of robust evidence based regulatory and non-regulatory policy solutions
• Working closely with key Waste Sector stakeholders
• Working across the wider Ministry and aligning our work with the wider waste management system and sector

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience   

We are looking for a Policy Advisor with:

• Demonstrated written and verbal communication experience and an ability to tailor to different audiences
• Experience in policy development and analysis, or a strong interest and willingness to learn in this area
• Understanding stakeholder needs and tailoring messages for different groups
• The ability to work comfortably in an environment of ambiguity 
• Skilled at managing multiple priorities and delivering under tight deadlines.
• Organising events, managing logistics, and coordinating multiple consultation channels.

Whānuitanga Utu ā-Tau | Salary range  

Salary range for this role is $80,712 to $97,721pa.  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 Nadine Eales at nadine.eales1@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.  

Note: for internal permanent kaimahi who are applying for a secondment, you must speak with your Manager before submitting your application.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:  Sunday 14 December 2025 @ 11.59pm. Please note, we will be looking at progressing candidates to interview prior to the closing date so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.