Team Manager People Advisory and ER at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

22 Apr, 26

Salary

174261.0

Posted On

22 Jan, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Employment Relations, People Advisory, Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Relationship Building, Communication, Coaching, Team Development, Investigations, Performance Management, Grievances, Change Processes, Public Sector Experience, Te Tiriti O Waitangi, Te Reo Māori, Māori Customs

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Lead a high‑performing team delivering trusted Employment Relations (ER) and people advice Shape MFAT’s Employment Relations Strategy Permanent role, Wellington‑based This role offers a unique opportunity to influence across a complex and globally distributed organisation, while supporting an engaged and dedicated team. About the role – Kōrero mō te tūranga We’re looking for an experienced and people‑centred leader to oversee MFAT’s Employment Relations function and guide a team delivering high‑quality, trusted advice to leaders across the Ministry. This is a pivotal role within the People Division — responsible for ensuring leaders and employees receive timely, practical, and legally sound guidance across the full range of ER and people advisory matters. You’ll lead a capable team of advisers who partner closely with people leaders, senior stakeholders, and subject matter experts across the organisation. From investigations, change processes and performance management guidance, through to strategic ER advice and identifying opportunities for improvement, your work will help ensure our people practices are consistent, fair, and aligned with MFAT’s values. A key part of the role is shaping and delivering MFAT’s Employment Relations Strategy — embedding early intervention approaches, lifting leader confidence, and proactively identifying trends and risks. You’ll also collaborate with colleagues across the People Division to enable seamless delivery of the People Strategy, including supporting delivery of annual processes such as performance, remuneration, postings, and rotations. To view the full position description, click here. The appointing range for this role is between $148,123 to midpoint of $174,261 total remuneration, inclusive of our 3% KiwiSaver employer contribution. Appointment within this range will depend on your level of experience. Who we’re looking for – Mā wai te mahi nei? We’re keen to hear from candidates who bring: Significant experience in Employment Relations, ideally with responsibility for leading an ER function Proven capability delivering ER or people‑related strategies, programmes, and improvements Deep practical knowledge of investigations, conduct, performance management, grievances, and change processes Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills, including credibility with senior leaders Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complexity into clear, practical advice A collaborative leadership style, with experience coaching and developing high‑performing teams The ability to think strategically while staying grounded in customer‑centred, pragmatic solutions Experience in public sector environments would be an advantage Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Reo Māori, and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial The People Division has recently implemented a new structure to better align our work with future priorities. As part of this, several new opportunities have emerged for talented people to join us and help shape the next phase of our work. Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission. Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here. MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. About us - Mō mātou Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world. To Apply/Interested? - Me pēhea te tuku tono Apply today with your CV and cover letter. To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen, or Permanent Resident. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed. Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Top Secret clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process. If you have questions about applying, you may email recruitment@mfat.govt.nz Applications close at 9:00pm on Sunday 8th February, 2026. Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role. This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a specialist role based in central Wellington, NZ. While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process. If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.

Responsibilities

Lead a high-performing team delivering trusted Employment Relations and people advice while shaping MFAT’s Employment Relations Strategy. Ensure leaders and employees receive timely, practical, and legally sound guidance across the full range of ER and people advisory matters.