Job Opportunities in New Zealand

The Ministry acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for New Zealanders.

Kia hangai ake e te Manatu he ao-haumaru, ao-tonui, ao-pumau, ki te oranga tonutanga mo Aotearoa whanui.

• Executive Strategic Leadership * People & Corporate Enabling Functions * Global Operating Environment

We are looking for a highly skilled executive leader to lead the Ministry’s People and Operations Group.

The Deputy Chief Executive People and Operations is a key member of MFAT’s Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for the strategic leadership of the People and Operations Group (including the following functions: People, Finance, Security, Organisational Resilience, Asset Management (incl. Property), Information Systems and Data Management, Procurement and Commercial Services, and the Enterprise Project Management Office). The Group’s work supports both New Zealand based teams, and those across the Ministry’s offshore network of Posts throughout the world.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous, and more sustainable future for New Zealanders. MFAT engages with other countries and regional, international, and multilateral bodies to influence outcomes that protect and advance New Zealand’s enduring national interests. MFAT’s organisational foundations are its people, its networks of overseas posts and the systems and corporate services that underpin its activities.

Responsibilities will include;

• leading and shaping a diverse work programme across a large, geographically dispersed, global operation – with an eye to innovation, efficiency, and cost-effective delivery of services; * leading, and enabling a high-performing and integrated People and Operations Group; * aligning People & Operations resource and capability to meet MFAT’s strategic and operational priorities; * partnering with Senior Leadership Team colleagues to shape the Ministry’s strategy and priorities and actively contributing to executive governance, ensuring coherence and alignment in the achievement of outcomes; and * building strong relationships and connections across the Ministry, the wider Public Service and with our partners.

The Ministry is embarking on a period of change to ensure we have a fiscally sound and sustainable operating model that can deliver for the Government across foreign affairs, development, and trade priorities. The DCE People and Operations will play a key role in the delivery of successful change, in particular across the Ministry’s corporate and organisational functions.

To be successful you will have demonstrated expertise in strategic leadership across a wide range of corporate functions to drive organisational wide change (service model, capability, assets, technology, and culture). The ability to influence and build strong relationships will be a key success factor.

A track-record of building high performing teams, in large, dynamic organisations is essential. The ability to navigate ambiguity and get results in a complex operating environment is important. A demonstrated understanding of the machinery of government is preferred.

MFAT aspires to be a workplace that vales diversity and inclusive thinking. A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments is at the core of the Ministry’s work.

This is an exciting executive opportunity to be part of shaping the future direction of MFAT in this influential role. For a copy of the position description, please click here. Please apply directly to MFAT with an up-to-date CV and covering letter; or alternatively for a conversation in confidence, please contact either Peter Taylor, Chief People Officer, on peter.taylor@mfat.govt.nz or Rona Singer, Head of Global Careers, on rona.singer@mfat.govt.nz. Applications close Sunday 6 October.