About this role
Discover a career with purpose at MBIE Lead complex policy work that supports tourism and hospitality to contribute to economic growth and deliver lasting benefits for communities and regions. Provide thought leadership and authoritative advice across regional tourism, hospitality and visitor-economy policy. Apply strong economic analysis to shape strategy, funding, regulatory and system-level interventions. Join a dynamic, collaborative branch at the interface of Government, local government and industry.
Permanent full-time position | Wellington CBD location Salary range: 132,417 - $160,472 plus Kiwisaver and wellness benefits About the Role - Tēnei tūranga: We’re looking for an experienced Principal Policy Advisor to join our Regional Tourism and Hospitality Policy team. This is an opportunity to lead complex and high-priority policy work that helps grow the tourism and hospitality sectors, strengthens national and regional economies and supports positive outcomes for communities. You will provide authoritative advice to Ministers and senior leaders, lead p rogrammes of work and bring an economic lens to policy development.
You will work across the full spectrum of policy levers, including strategy, funding and regulatory interventions, using evidence, data and economic analysis to assess trade-offs and develop practical, high-quality advice. As a Principal Policy Advisor, you will help set strategic direction, influence senior stakeholders, coach and mentor colleagues, and lift policy capability across the team. You will be comfortable navigating ambiguity, working across varied domains and aligning policy with Government priorities in a fast-paced environment.
You will be responsible for: Applying economic thinking, evidence and data to understand sector and regional impacts, assess trade-offs and shape policy options that support productivity and sustainable growth. Providing authoritative policy advice and leading complex, sensitive programmes of work and project teams across regional tourism and hospitality. Leading advice on the design and implementation of strategy, funding, regulatory and system-level interventions. Influencing policy direction through strong engagement and communication with Ministers, senior leaders and stakeholders across government, industry, regions and communities.
Partnering with the Policy Manager to drive the strategic policy agenda and set direction for the team’s policy domain and the wider branch work programme. Guiding and mentoring Senior Policy Advisors and Policy Advisors, strengthening the quality and capability of the team.
About the Team
Tourism and hospitality is primarily a regional activity. The Government aims to strengthen our stewardship of the tourism system and work actively with iwi, hapū and tangata whenua, local government, industry, businesses, regions and communities to shape future growth, manage its impact and better coordinate activities and investments. Our team helps shape how tourism and hospitality contribute to economic growth and deliver lasting benefits for communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. We provide advice to Ministers, and work closely with partners on a varied portfolio that spans regional tourism, hospitality, tourism data, freedom camping, local government and responses to emergencies affecting the visitor economy.
This includes
- Working closely with local government, regional tourism organisations and industry partners on topics related to regional tourism and hospitality.
- Supporting regions to help develop and manage tourism at place, including through the city and regional deal framework, system settings and investment.
- Identifying opportunities to improve the use of tourism data and insights for the sector.
- Developing policy responses to protect and enhance areas of national significance.
- Supporting regions affected by natural disasters, from a tourism perspective.
- Working across Government and industry to support the strengthening of the hospitality sector.
Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required The Principal Policy Advisor is a leadership position in MBIE. You will bring your proven policy, relationship and delivery skills to support our work with key partners. Experience leading discussions with Ministers and stakeholders is critical, as is the ability to think analytically and strategically through issues and use data and evidence to provide robust advice. We’d love to hear from you if you can demonstrate: Extensive public policy experience, typically 5 - 10 years, with a track record of shaping direction and leading complex policy work.
Strong economic policy capability, including the ability to apply economic frameworks, evidence and data to assess impacts, trade-offs and policy options. Excellent analytical capability and sound judgement in ambiguous or fast-moving environments, with the ability to turn complex issues into practical solutions. Proven experience producing high-quality advice for Ministers and senior leaders, including confidence working across Cabinet processes and the machinery of government. A strong understanding of, or demonstrated ability to quickly build expertise in, tourism, hospitality, regional economic development or related sectors.
The ability to lead through influence and build trusted relationships with stakeholders across government, local government, industry, regions and communities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences. Experience mentoring others, providing intellectual leadership and lifting policy capability and quality across a team. Flexibility, initiative and resilience, with the ability to manage changing priorities and deliver high-quality results.
A relevant tertiary qualification, preferably in economics. At time of application, you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand. About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE: MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders. We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.
People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours. Mahi Tahi – Better Together Māia – Bold and brave Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future Pono Me Te Tika – Own It Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'. MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand.
We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities. E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapa kua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.
How to Apply - Me pēhea te tono: Click here to view a position description . When you are ready to apply please submit your CV and cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role. All applications must be submitted via our online process. Email Fati Tagata at [email protected] quoting ref MBIE/20410 if you have any further questions. Applications close on Sunday 22 November 2026.