Principal Advisor, National Risk

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) Wellington-based | 10 Month Fixed Term / Secondment Opportunity | Full-time Lead New Zealand's national risk system Drive strategic change across government Shape the future of national resilience Are you a trusted strategic advisor who enjoys solving complex problems, influencing across organisational boundaries, and shaping how government responds to New Zealand's most significant national risks? The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) is seeking an exceptional Principal Advisor to provide ongoing strategic leadership across the National Risk and Resilience Framework. This role covers a parental leave vacancy and is a rare opportunity to shape how government identifies, understands, and manages the country's most significant risks while strengthening national resilience for future generations. Working at the centre of government, you will lead the evolution of New Zealand's national risk management approach, driving strategic initiatives that influence decision making across the public sector and contribute directly to the safety, security, and prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand. This is a highly influential role requiring strategic thinking, strong judgement, exceptional relationship management, and the ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity. The National Risk and Resilience Directorate leads the stewardship of New Zealand's National Risk and Resilience Framework, helping government anticipate, understand, and prepare for the country's most significant hazards and national security threats. As Principal Advisor, you will provide strategic leadership across the National Risk and Resilience Framework, driving the ongoing development of national risk frameworks, methodologies, products, tools, and system capability. You will influence senior leaders across government, strengthen cross agency approaches to risk management and resilience, and ensure New Zealand has a contemporary and evidence-based approach to understanding and managing national risks in an increasingly complex global environment. Operating across multiple risk domains and sectors, you will connect insights, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and support informed decision making through strategic analysis and system leadership. This role is suited to someone who enjoys influencing at the highest levels, leading complex programmes of work, and creating lasting system-wide impact. In this role you will: Lead the strategic direction and continuous improvement of New Zealand's National Resilience System and associated frameworks, methodologies, and governance arrangements. Drive the development of national risk management tools, analytical products, and strategic insights, including oversight of the National Risk Register and related system products. Draw out insights, analysis and maintain tools to provide assurance about ongoing risk management Provide trusted strategic advice to senior executives, governance groups, Ministers and cross government decision makers on complex national risk and resilience issues. Lead complex, multi-agency programmes that strengthen national risk management capability across the public sector. Influence whole of system thinking by identifying emerging risks, strategic trends, and opportunities to improve national resilience. Build and maintain highly effective relationships across government, the wider resilience sector, and key stakeholders to drive collective outcomes. Represent DPMC in senior cross agency forums, providing thought leadership on national risk management and resilience. Lead complex analytical work that integrates domestic and international evidence to support strategic decision making. Mentor and develop senior advisors and contribute to building a high performing, collaborative, and inclusive team. Champion innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice in strategic risk management across government. You are a recognised strategic thinker with credibility operating in complex policy, strategy, resilience, or national security environments. You are comfortable leading ambiguity, influencing without authority and bringing diverse organisations together around shared outcomes. You combine exceptional analytical capability with strong interpersonal skills and are equally comfortable advising Ministers, facilitating senior cross agency discussions or designing practical tools that improve how government manages risk. You will bring: A relevant tertiary qualification in risk management, public policy, strategy, international relations, security studies, economics, law or a related discipline. Significant experience leading complex strategic programmes within government or similarly complex organisations. Extensive experience in strategic or national level risk management, resilience, policy, or related disciplines. Deep understanding of contemporary risk management frameworks, methodologies, and system governance. Demonstrated success influencing senior leaders and building trusted relationships across organisational boundaries. Outstanding strategic thinking, judgement and analytical capability. Exceptional written communication skills, including preparing Cabinet papers, Ministerial briefings, strategic reports, and governance advice. Experience leading multidisciplinary work programmes involving multiple stakeholders with competing priorities. A collaborative leadership style with experience coaching and developing others. High levels of political awareness, resilience and sound judgement when working in sensitive environments. A passion for strengthening New Zealand's resilience and contributing to better government outcomes. About the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Rūnanga Kāwanatanga The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet support the government of the day by leading, advising, stewarding, and delivering activities across the public sector, and by providing dedicated advice and support to the Governor-General, Prime Minister and portfolio Ministers. Within DPMC, the National Risk and Resilience Directorate works at the forefront of New Zealand's resilience system, providing strategic leadership to strengthen the nation's ability to anticipate, prepare for and respond to significant risks. This is an opportunity to influence work that matters. You will lead nationally significant initiatives that strengthen New Zealand's resilience and shape how government manages complex strategic risks well into the future. In return, you'll work alongside highly capable colleagues in a collaborative, high performing environment that values innovation, stewardship, integrity, and continuous learning. You'll have the opportunity to: Lead nationally significant strategic work. Influence decisions at the highest levels of government. Shape the future of New Zealand's National Risk and Resilience Framework. Drive system wide improvements across the public sector. Work with experts across government, academia and the wider resilience community. Continue developing your leadership and professional capability in a unique centre of government environment. Salary Range $151,303 - $178,004. The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Special (TSS) national security clearance would be an advantage in this role, but is not mandatory. Normally, to obtain this level of clearance you must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a Resident Class visa. Alternatively, you may be a citizen of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, or Australia with a checkable background covering the previous 15 years. #J-18808-Ljbffr