National Security Group Fixed Term or Secondment (3 x Senior Advisor and 1 x Principal Advisor) Join us in a pivotal role where your expertise can shape the future! If you're driven by a passion for national security and resilience, thrive on strategic challenges, and aspire to make a significant impact at the heart of government, we want you on our team. For a generation or more, we have enjoyed a comparatively stable and secure strategic environment that has been favourable to New Zealand's interests and values. However, the world is changing. Navigating this requires skilled individuals with excellent policy skills and a demonstrated ability to apply these to complex policy challenges. We need strategic thinkers that can work collaboratively with others to solve problems and balance a complex set of intersecting trade-offs, including national security, individual rights, economic growth, and natural justice. We're looking for talented Senior and Principal Advisors to join the National Security Policy Directorate (NSPD) within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). NSPD sits within the National Security Group. Our current vacancies are in the Security and Intelligence Policy and Cyber and Technology Security Policy teams, offering a rare opportunity to work on two deeply interesting legislative projects. Positions are full-time, fixed term and vary between 8 and 14 months, and are Wellington-based. Secondments from other government agencies are welcomed. What are we looking for? We're particularly interested in candidates with a working knowledge of the national security system, intelligence and security and/or law enforcement and the relevant domestic and international law which applies, including human rights frameworks. Experience in developing policy for legislation and the legislative process will be viewed particularly favourably. In addition, our ideal candidates will have: Experience in a policy environment working on complex projects, including legislation An interest in national security, or in working to provide better outcomes for New Zealanders Knowledge of government priorities and relevant political context Demonstrated ability to apply analytical frameworks and methods Experience developing others through coaching and mentoring to achieve high performance Sound judgement, organisational and political nous, critical and lateral thinking The ability to influence and engage others within and outside the organisation Excellent communication skills - persuasive, collaborative and inspiring Emotional intelligence and a consultative nature Our policy professionals will be expected to engage with a wide range of communities in New Zealand in developing policy. Eligibility requirements : To be eligible for these positions, you must have been a NZ citizen for at least 10 years. Alternatively, you must hold NZ Permanent Residence or hold a current NZ Residency Class Visa and have been a citizen of UK, USA, Canada or Australia for at least 10 years. You must also be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Special (TSS) national security clearance. Ordinarily to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have a 15-year 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. Given the length of this role, preference will be given to candidates who already hold a national security clearance at TS or above. If you have any questions regarding the roles, please email Pip Swaney, Manager, Security and Intelligence Policy at in the first instance. Applications close midnight on 27 October 2024. All applications must be submitted online. Please specify in your application whether you are interested in a Senior Advisor or Principal Advisor role. #J-18808-Ljbffr