PRINCIPAL ADVISER (FORESTRY SYSTEM)

Role type: Permanent, full-time preferred
Location: Wellington
Salary band & range: General Salary Range C: $119,376 to $139,700 depending on skills and experience

You have significant technical experience in:

• writing high-quality government agency papers and documents
• leading projects/analysis and providing mentoring and guidance to analysts
• quickly assessing and understanding the nature of problems, identify a range of solutions, and clearly communicating their impacts.building and maintaining trusting relationships with a range of different stakeholders
• considering the broader political environment and wider government objectives in your advice
• making timely and informed decisions and be comfortable proceeding with uncertainty and ambiguity
• providing thought leadership, to drive work programmes and deliver results

Are you ready to help us shape the future of New Zealand’s forestry and wood processing sector?
Te Uru Rakau - New Zealand Forest Service is seeking a strategic and experienced Principal Adviser to lead high-impact policy and regulatory initiatives that support diverse economic opportunities, benefits that communities derive from ecosystems, and resilience to climate change.
This newly established position sits within a fast-paced, delivery-focused team working at the intersection of policy and regulation. You’ll lead complex workstreams, provide evidence-based advice to Ministers and senior leaders, and foster strategic development across the forestry system.

The key responsibilities are to:

• Lead the development of regulatory and operational policy across forestry, wood processing, land use, and climate change.
• Drive strategic outcomes through systems thinking, regulatory stewardship, and cross-agency collaboration.
• Coach and mentor staff, contributing to team capability, and continuous improvement.
• Promote Te Tiriti - Crown relations and integrating Te Ao Maori perspectives into regulatory frameworks.
• Lead projects such as ETS efficiencies, cost recovery, and farmland conversion incentives.

About You - Mou
You bring extensive experience in policy, regulation, and government processes, with a strong understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles.
You are confident navigating complex regulatory systems, supporting legislation drafting, producing high-quality advice, and using your strong written and verbal communication skills for different audiences.
Your ability to analyse problems, assess regulatory impacts, and communicate clearly makes you a trusted adviser.

You have significant technical experience in:

• writing high-quality government agency papers and documents
• leading projects/analysis and providing mentoring and guidance to analysts
• quickly assessing and understanding the nature of problems, identify a range of solutions, and clearly communicating their impacts.building and maintaining trusting relationships with a range of different stakeholders
• considering the broader political environment and wider government objectives in your advice
• making timely and informed decisions and be comfortable proceeding with uncertainty and ambiguity
• providing thought leadership, to drive work programmes and deliver results.

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you would be a great fit.