Principal Advisor

Work as a Senior Operational Policy Analyst to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of regulation in New Zealand. Be at the forefront of a new regulatory initiatives, translate complex policy and legislative frameworks into practical, high-quality operational products that will have an impact on communities across the country.

What you'll do:

As a Senior Operational Policy Analyst, you will be instrumental in designing and implementing an effective regulatory systems. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve providing trusted advice on operational policy matters; developing pragmatic operating models; creating fit-for-purpose guidance materials; monitoring regulatory trends; translating legislative requirements into actionable procedures; assessing global best practices; driving business improvement projects; fostering stakeholder relationships; ensuring information flow across teams; and maintaining up-to-date documentation. Success in this role requires you to collaborate widely—both internally with cross-functional teams—and externally with sector stakeholders including international counterparts. Your ability to synthesise complex information into practical solutions will help ensure that regulated parties are well-informed about their responsibilities. By championing responsive regulatory practices grounded in data-driven insights and stakeholder engagement, you will contribute significantly to delivering positive outcomes for New Zealanders.

What you bring:

• Demonstrated experience in policy work within a regulatory or operational policy environment where you have provided robust advice on risks, issues, options, and recommendations.
• Proven ability to translate legislation into effective operational policies, procedures, business processes, standards, and guidance documents suitable for diverse audiences.
• Strong background in working within technical or systems-driven environments requiring critical thinking skills to navigate complexity effectively.
• Familiarity with project management disciplines including leading change initiatives using collaborative approaches such as co-design or co-production methodologies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of public sector requirements including partnership with Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi as well as relevant codes of practice.
• Expertise in analysing data from multiple sources to inform targeting/prioritisation strategies while identifying emerging trends/technologies impacting regulatory business.
• Excellent interpersonal skills enabling you to consult widely with internal/external stakeholders—building resilient relationships that foster cooperation towards shared goals.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously using organisational templates/processes while maintaining high standards of accuracy/consistency in documentation.
• Operational planning skills coupled with experience supporting the development/delivery of complex analysis/business cases/reports within service delivery contexts.
• Outstanding written/oral communication abilities allowing you to convey complex concepts clearly while engaging constructively with diverse audiences.

• What's next:
• If you are ready to use your expertise in operational policy analysis to help shape an innovative new regulatory regime that benefits communities across Aotearoa then this is your moment!

Robert Walters endeavours to review all applications in a maximum of five working days. If you have not received correspondence within this timeframe please do not hesitate to contact Peita Ransom on +6444719798