Advisor/Senior Advisor Policy - Natural Hazards

Minstry for the Environment

📍Wellington (NZ) 🕔 Full Time
💰 $110,501 to $134,128 NZD /year ⏳ 12/10/2025

One of MfE's strategic priorities is to strengthen the resilience of communities, businesses and places to climate change and natural hazards. The Natural Hazards Policy team - part of the wider Climate Adaptation Business Unit, is looking for people to help progress groundbreaking policy that enables people and places to thrive, now and in the future.  MfE is the lead policy agency for the environment and climate, and these roles provide an opportunity to contribute to work which addresses one of Aotearoa's most pressing challenges. 

All of these roles sit within the friendly Natural Hazards Policy team. Our team is responsible for policy advice on natural hazards, in particular the identification, and assessment of the risk posed by natural hazards (including those exacerbated by climate change) and ways to reduce the impacts of natural hazards on people and communities. 

The natural hazards policy team is integrally involved in the development of the new Resource Management System Reforming the resource management system – replacing the RMA | Ministry for the Environment and National Adaptation Framework Adaptation framework | Ministry for the Environment.  Within this context, our team provides advice on how to:

• Ensure that new development is resilient

• Support community led planning to adapt to the impacts of climate change

• Improve the information and methods communities, businesses and individuals use to understand and respond to risks from natural hazards

• Prepare to recover more quickly from natural disasters 

• Reduce the risk from natural hazards 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience   

Our ideal Senior candidate will have: 

• A tertiary qualification in natural hazards, earth sciences, or related fields.

• 3-5 years' experience in natural hazards or climate adaptation risk management for infrastructure investment and/or land use plans.

• Central government policy experience and/or a strong understanding of the resource management system.

• Experience leading projects across teams.

Our ideal Advisor candidate(s) will have: 

• A tertiary qualification in natural hazard management or risk science; or

• Experience translating natural hazard risk data into compelling, usable information to inform advice on natural hazard risk management, policy and practice.

• Central government policy experience.

All candidates must have: 

• Ability to work well as part of a remote team in a highly collaborative environment.

• Strong relationship management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience delivering high quality work in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to think creatively to achieve results and produce credible advice on complex technical matters.

• Commitment to developing your cultural capability and capacity in te ao Māori.

• Ability to use GIS would be an advantage.

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 and state.  Please mention in your cover letter which role your are applying for.   

If you require further information about this position please contact Ngaire Howes at Ngaire.howes@mfe.govt.nz.  The position descriptions are available via our careers centre www.mfe.govt.nz/jobs.  

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.

We will be progressing candidates to interview prior to the closing date so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.