Principal Policy Advisor - Regulatory policy

Wellington I $125,000.00 - $155,000.00 Annual I Contractor

Principal Policy Advisor - Regulatory policy

Our client is a government agency in Wellington seeking an experienced Principal Policy Advisor to play a central role in delivering a high priority national regulatory programme (secondary legislation). This is a hands on policy role suited to an established principal level policy professional with demonstrated experience in complex regulatory work, Cabinet processes, and working directly with Ministers.

About the Role

You will be a key member of a small team delivering a new two year programme of work with significant public, sector, and ministerial interest.

The Principal Advisor is a critical role in this programme and will operate as a trusted 2IC, with significant responsibility. This role will suit a policy “doer” — someone comfortable leading and delivering substantive regulatory work in a high scrutiny environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will be working for the lead policy agency for this nationally significant programme and will be advising the Minister directly.
In this role you will:

• Lead and deliver principal level regulatory policy work, including:

Mandatory performance standards, set through secondary legislation and approved by Cabinet.
Codes of Practice that sit under the standards and provide the preferred pathway for compliance.

• Draft and progress:

Cabinet papers
Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS)
Briefings to Ministers
Regulatory instruments (e.g. Orders in Council).

• Support and lead public consultation and sector engagement, a major component of the programme.
• Work closely with technical specialists while providing strong policy and regulatory leadership.
• Operate confidently within machinery of government, Cabinet processes, and ministerial engagement.
• Act as a trusted delegate / 2IC, providing continuity and leadership when required.

This role requires comfort with ambiguity, delivery with initiative, and confidence working in a small team under high public, sector, and ministerial interest.

Essential Experience and Capability

To be successful in this role, you must demonstrate:

• Established principal level policy experience, with a strong focus on regulatory and/or legislative policy.
• Strong machinery of government capability, including proven experience:

Leading and delivering Cabinet papers
Preparing Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS)
Drafting briefings for Ministers
Direct engagement with Ministers.

• Demonstrated experience leading substantial policy projects, including:

Development of complex regulatory frameworks
Work on primary and secondary legislation
Advising Ministers
Building and maintaining cross agency relationships.

• Recent sector experience in environment, water, or resource management.
• A strong understanding of local government, with councils as key stakeholders.
• Experience leading or supporting sector engagement and public consultation processes.
• A strong hands on delivery mindset — you enjoy being a principal level “doer”.
• Ability to deliver with initiative in ambiguous or evolving policy environments.

Highly desirable:

• Experience or capability relating to Te Ao Māori / Te Tiriti considerations.

Why This Role?

• Shape a new national regulatory framework from the ground up.
• Work at the centre of a high priority programme with strong senior leadership and ministerial focus.
• Take on a trusted senior role with real influence and responsibility.
• Be part of a small, committed team delivering work of genuine public significance.

Employment Details

• Fixed term: From now through to early 2028
• Location: Wellington
A short term contractor may be engaged initially; however, this role is the core long term delivery position for the programme.

Me pēwhea te tuku tono | How to apply

To express interest & find out more, please apply with your CV to be considered. Candidates with suitable experience will be contacted by Frog Recruitment for a confidential discussion about the opportunity and about your job search preferences, before making a plan with you to present your details to our client, if appropriate. Your CV will never be sent to any 3rd party without your consent.

We’ve used AI to help make this advert clear and easy to read, but rest assured—every application will be personally reviewed by one of our consultants at Frog Recruitment.

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Operating for over 20 years in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, people2people, Edge Recruitment, and Frog Recruitment are an award-winning recruitment group and HR solutions provider. As an inclusive workforce, we welcome everyone and encourage our employees, clients, and candidates to showcase their authentic selves.

Should you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, we encourage you to make a request by phoning the above-mentioned recruitment consultant to discuss. In response to these requests, we will collaborate closely with you to implement the appropriate adjustments.