Main purpose of job:

This is a fascinating time to join the UK in New Zealand team during a period global uncertainties, challenges and opportunities. The bilateral relationship with New Zealand is a priority for the UK.

The UK in New Zealand’s (British High Commission in Wellington and Consulate-General in Auckland) work covers the full range of UK Government interests – political, trade, defence, science, economics, and consular policy. We operate in an exciting, fast-paced environment, working closely with New Zealand on a wide range of issues that reinforce our shared values and deliver on UK priorities such as growth and security.

You will be based in the British Consulate-General Auckland. The role provides broader political and economic expertise to inform wider UK in New Zealand policy considerations. The main focus areas of the role are:

•  Political and economic policy: Producing reporting, analysis and advice to support UK objectives, including economic growth, informed by your knowledge of New Zealand’s political and economic context, and international developments. Your expertise will help a range of UK government departments pursue their objectives with New Zealand.
• External engagement: Lead the development of our political and economic networks in Auckland. Work closely with the Consul General to support their engagements, as well as senior visiting stakeholders.
• Foreign and Security Policy Team: Support the team’s work across their portfolio.

You will be part of the Foreign and Security Policy Team that operates across the Auckland office and the High Commission in Wellington. You will develop knowledge of the NZ market, sectors, and government priorities, providing insight to policy development in Wellington, Auckland, and London. You will manage projects to achieve our economic policy goals and work with the wider policy teams to deliver relevant programmes for visitors. You will contribute to the team’s wider work through policy analysis, comms, and support the delivery of events in Auckland and Wellington that deliver UK priorities. You will support crisis planning and preparedness work in Auckland.

You will work closely across the Wellington High Commission and Auckland Consulate-General, and with Policy teams based in the UK, on all issues relating to economic growth. You will be expected to regularly travel to Wellington to meet New Zealand Government Departments and build your network. There will be some opportunity for further travel. You will be comfortable working with colleagues at distance and leading on work with limited supervision. You will be expected to proactively identify and respond to political and economic developments, build your networks, and be up to speed with the range of UK economic priorities.

You will join a small and friendly team. We welcome applicants who reflect New Zealand’s cultural and ethnic diversity.  We aspire to reflect the bicultural nature of New Zealand.The UK in New Zealand is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

The UK in New Zealand sometimes responds to crises that affect the UK, New Zealand or the Pacific. At those times, you may be required to operate outside your usual role as part of our crisis team if we reprioritise and suspend some or all of our usual business. From time to time, you will be asked to host or attend events out of hours.

Roles and responsibilities:

Political and economic policy

• Provide policy analysis, reports, and advice to support UK objectives across a range of economic growth, trade, geopolitical, domestic topics, climate, energy, with a particular focus on Auckland issues.
• Lead on our economic growth policy objectives working closely with colleagues from the Department for Business and Trade.
• Provide broader support on growth and economic objectives across UKinNZ teams (e.g. Science and Technology Team, Trade and Prosperity Team, Climate).
• Be UKinNZ’s lead contact for HM Treasury.
• Lead UKinNZ’s work on development and implementation of bilateral and regional economic policy projects.
• Lead UKinNZ’s economic security work.
• Support crisis planning and preparedness work in Auckland

External engagement

• Lead the development of a network across Auckland of political and economic policy contacts across government, council, private sector, academia, media and diplomatic corps. Lead on Auckland contact-building across those same sectors, advising colleagues across UKinNZ.
• Support the Consul General with their external engagements with Auckland based economic and political stakeholders, including through political reporting and stakeholder mapping.
• Lead and support on visits, events and engagements that contribute to growth, economic, and foreign and security policy priorities.

Foreign and Security Policy

• Support Foreign and Security Policy Team’s work. Use your network to create opportunities for Foreign and Security Policy comms and public diplomacy.

• A minimum of two years” experience in New Zealand central or local government, policy, public affairs or similar role
• An aptitude for political, economic and policy analysis
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A sound understanding of New Zealand economic policy, politics and system of government
• Strong relationship management skills