Private Secretary | Building & Construction Portfolio

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Private Secretary | Building & Construction Portfolio

Date : 23 Oct 2025

Location : Wellington, NZ, 6011

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

• Higher duties allowance and 1 extra week of leave for internal candidates, and a comparable fixed-term salary for external candidates.
• Fixed-term or Secondment between 12-18 months based in Wellington
• Do you thrive in a fast-paced and challenging role?
• Are you eager to use your superior influencing, negotiation and multi-tasking skills to make a difference at the political interface?

If so, we want to hear from you!

MBIE is seeking expressions of interest for a Private Secretary position in the Building and Construction portfolio. This position is based in the office of the relevant Minister, currently Minister Penk, and reports to the Head of the Office of the Deputy Secretary. This opportunity is Wellington based, a fixed term or secondment between 12 to 18 months full time, starting in early December.

Private Secretaries are the bridge between the Minister’s office and MBIE. This means we are looking for someone who can build strong relationships with others, exercise excellent judgement and self-manage. The role will reward you with a unique experience during which you will develop invaluable communication, relationship, and judgement skills to take with you into your future career. You will be well supported along the way with a firm focus on your pastoral care and how to succeed as a Private Secretary.

Building and construction is a fast-paced and dynamic portfolio. Significant reform is underway, and this role provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to making building easier and more affordable.

You are a policy professional who is very knowledgeable about the machinery of government and how the legislative process works. You will be known for your ability to take initiative, identify and manage risk, and clearly communicate with others. You will have excellent relationship management skills and very sound judgement, with demonstrated experience working confidently with senior leaders and ministers. You will be looking to further develop your political nous, have a passion for being in the thick of it and relish the opportunity to be exposed to decision-making at the highest level.

Internal candidates will receive up to $10,000 per annum in higher duties allowance and an extra weeks leave at the end of the secondment term. External candidates will be offered a comparable fixed term salary.

In addition, private secretary roles put you at the heart of decision making, giving you excellent insights into the working of government, a great way to build connections across the public sector and advance your career.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

What you will need to bring

This role would suit a person who thrives in a fast-paced and challenging role, and therefore you will need :

MBIE\'s goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful’.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups / organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

All applications must be submitted via our online process and include a Cover Letter and CV outlining your interest and suitability for the role.

Applications close on Friday, 21st November at 11.59.

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