Senior Advisor – Vetting and Verification

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Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Senior Advisor (Vetting and Verification) contributes to the operations of MBIE’s Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery Group, reporting to the Manager Vetting, Verification and Research Services. A key focus of the role is to enable the Chief Executive, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and the Employment Relations Authority to meet obligations and responsibilities under the Fair Pay legislation and the Employment Relations Act.

The Senior Advisor (Vetting and Verification) will provide specialist advice about Fair Pay legislation and processes to support both internal and external stakeholders. The Senior Advisor is responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of advice and practices in relation to timely and accurate decision making under the Fair Pay Legislation.

Responsibilities of this position may change over time as the team responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves. This includes performing any other reasonable duties as required.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

  • Legislative knowledge and expertise, specifically a demonstrated understanding and experience in the practices of employment law (or comparable) and statutory decision-making processes.
  • Sound judgment skills to ensure effective and evidenced based decisions are made regarding verification and vetting.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated communication, facilitation, influencing skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical information in plain language.
  • Ability to identify and help manage risk, sensitive issue(s) and confidentiality in a regulatory environment.
  • Ability to balance prioritise, plan and organise workload.
  • A commitment to continuous improvement and development of best practice within the vetting and verification function.
  • Focus on providing quality services to both internal and external stakeholders, whilst building trust and credibility.
  • Assist in managing stakeholder relationships.
  • A relevant tertiary qualification / professional registration and/or extensive comparable experience in regulatory implementation and statutory decision-making.
  • Experience in operational policy design, practice frameworks and business processes (would be an advantage).

Key Relationships

  • Members of the wider Business Advisory Services Team.
  • All Managers and team members within Employment Services Branch.
  • Managers, and relevant team members across, Office of the CE, Policy and Legal Services.
  • The Employment Relations Authority Chief and Members.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

The Senior Advisor (Vetting and Verification) will be required to deliver

  • Specialist legislative services that actively support and contribute to the timely and accurate decision making of the Vetting and Verification Team.
  • Leading analysis and verification of evidence provided to support applications under the Fair Pay legislation.
  • Prepare and review reports on applications received after accessing and reviewing all the information submitted.
  • Work closely with other members of the Vetting and Verification Team and other stakeholders within MBIE and the Employment Relations Authority to achieve sound outcomes under the Fair Pay legislation.
  • Prepare notices for publication under the Fair Pay legislation.
  • Ensure records relating to cover of Fair Pay Agreements are maintained.
  • Become a technical expert for Fair Pay legislation and provide technical expertise in relation to its application.
  • Support and work closely with other workstreams such as Bargaining Capability and Support to ensure a smooth transition from Vetting and Verification.
  • Ensure processes are documented and regularly reviewed/updated.
  • Identify opportunities for improvement and implementing these in relation to system, processes and business information.

Technical Capability and Knowledge

  • Support the work done by the Advisor (Vetting and Verification) to receive and review applications under the Fair Pay legislation.
  • Perform vetting and verification of applications when required.
  • Write and prepare sound recommendations to the Chief Executive regarding the applications received.
  • Ensure all legally required process steps have been complied with.
  • Ensure quality assurance processes and requirements are undertaking, including process documentation and quality management activities in line with Branch ISO certification requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with the Privacy Act, MBIE’s and Employment Services policies relating to document retention, management and destruction supporting proper record management.
  • Effectively and consistently identify and manage risk, alerting management to potential problems/risks well in advance and proposing solutions.
  • Providing senior level advisory capability, advice and support as required for the Manager, Vetting, Verification and Research Services, to help strengthen the overall capability of the branch including through delivery of vetting and verification activities which actively supports and contributes to the achievement of the Ministry’s outcomes and deliver to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ensure all fair pay agreement notices are published using the correct form and published within the required time-periods.
  • Ensure all fair pay agreement notices are updated when the ERA makes determination(s) varying coverage.

Coaching and Mentoring

  • Assist with the technical training of vetting and verification team to build the capability of sound decision-making in the assessment of Fair Pay applications.
  • Provides constructive, timely and specific feedback to others and gives credit for tasks well done.
  • Motivates team members and gives them opportunities to participate.
  • Seeks and explores opportunities to develop the capability of others in the team.

Relationship Management

  • Work collaboratively across all workstreams within the Fair Pay legislation and other MBIE teams to deliver quality outcomes, including providing appropriate technical advice in matters relating to Fair Pay.
  • Develop effective working relationships with MBIE staff to transfer knowledge to the team.
  • Build and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with stakeholders, when necessary, to identify and share best practice information.
  • Participates as an active team member and contributes knowledge and expertise needed to achieve MBIE’s outcomes.
  • Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in any external interactions.

Information Sharing and Education

  • Providing guidance to internal and external stakeholders, including the ERA, unions and employer associations about the Fair Pay processes and procedures.
  • Timely and consistent sharing of information and education about the vetting and verification process both internally and externally.
  • Timely and accurate sharing of information about Fair Pay Agreements being negotiated, existing Fair Pay Agreements and their scope.

Communication

  • Uses a range of appropriate communication tools and methods to communicate effectively.
  • Can write in a style that is well organised, easily understood and relevant.
  • Communicates technical information and/or complex information in an easy-to-understand manner.
  • Presentations are fit for purpose and easily understood by the target audience.
  • Can communicate confidently and appropriately across a range of levels within the organisation.

Decision Quality

Make good and timely decisions that keep the organisation moving forward, by:

  • Making sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information.
  • Relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.
  • Considering all relevant factors and using appropriate decision-making criteria and principles, taking calculated risks where required.
  • Analysing information to make effective decisions to improve performance.

Collaborates

Support others, building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives, by:

  • Working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups to achieve shared objectives.
  • Balancing competing interests and priorities appropriately and in line with MBIE’s priorities.
  • Identifying, engaging early and partnering with relevant stakeholders to get work done.
  • Crediting others for their contributions and accomplishments.
  • Gaining trust and support of others.
  • Addressing behaviours that do not align with our culture.
  • Seeking and respecting the views and opinions of others.
  • Providing timely and helpful information to others across the organisation.

Wellbeing, health & safety

  • Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
  • Ensures own and others safety at all times.
  • Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
  • Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
  • Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Senior Advisor – Vetting and Verification position reports into the Manager Business Advisory Services within the Employment Services branch. The branch sits within the Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery group.

More information about MBIE’s structure

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Ngā matatau – Our competencies

Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.

Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.

Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.

Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.

Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.

Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission

MBIE value: Māia - Bold & brave, Pae Kahurangi - Build our future, Mahi Tahi - Better together, Pono Me Te Tika - Own it