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8442 Chief Advisor Government, COVID-19 Strategic Operations – COVID-19 Health System Response – 2020
Position Description
Chief Advisor Government
Team COVID-19 Strategic Operations
Group COVID-19 Strategic Operations
Directorate COVID-19 Health System Response
Manager Group Manager COVID-19 Strategic Operations
Location Wellington
Direct reports 0 Indirect 0
Delegation authority HR Level 0 Financial Level 0
Date Job band 21G
Leadership profile Techinical Leader
About the Ministry of Health (the Ministry)
The Ministry is the Kaitiaki of the health and disability system in Aotearoa New Zealand. We do this
by providing a fair, effective and sustainable system that people trust.
The Ministry is responsible for:
• providing active stewardship and leadership across the health and disability system to ensure it
provides people with the highest levels of care, regardless of who they are or where they live
• prioritising equity in health outcomes and independence for Māori and all other peoples, and
engaging meaningfully with our stakeholders to achieve shared goals
• delivering high-quality policy advice to government on the health system – this includes
maintaining the regulatory environment and national policy settings that support the health
sector to provide quality services for New Zealanders
• working collectively with other agencies to implement changes to the health and disability system
– we also link these changes with improvements in the broader social and economic sectors to
achieve Pae Ora – healthy futures
• partnering with iwi, hapū and Māori communities to meet our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
Directorate description
The COVID-19 Health System Response Directorate provides oversight of all activities contributing
to the Ministry’s COVID-19 response. It is led by the Deputy Chief Executive COVID-19 Health
System Response and is accountable for the Ministry’s COVID-19 plan.
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8442 Chief Advisor Government, COVID-19 Strategic Operations – COVID-19 Health System Response – 2020
The COVID-19 Health System Response Directorate is comprised of key functions including:
• Public Health Advisory
• Strategic Partnerships
• Testing Strategy
• Contact Tracing
• Supply Chain
• Border Operations
• Managed Isolation & Quarantine
• Reporting, Monitoring & Risk Assurance
• Programme Management & Planning
• Intelligence
• Public Health Surveillance
• Science & Technical Advisory
• Response & Coordination
These functions work in close collaboration to ensure seamless delivery of the Ministry’s COVID-19
response. They also support the wider All of Government response to COVID-19.
About the Strategic Operations group
The purpose of the Strategic Operations group is to shape and drive the delivery of the COVID-19
Strategy for the directorate and the Ministry.
Working across the Directorate, the Strategy Operations group will support the implementation and
operationalisation of the COVID-19 Strategy, by acting as a think tank for problem solving
challenging and complex issues. The group will provide strategic advice to the Deputy Chief
Executive and the Ministry’s Executive Leadership Team.
Functions of the group include:
• Strategic Partnerships – will influence and enhance the COVID-19 directorate’s relationships
with the wider health sector. In such a dynamic environment it’s important that we
collaborate closely with the health sector and other agencies (both NGOs and government)
ensuring that we take our partners with us on this very uncertain journey.
• Strategic Risk Management – will identify, quantify and mitigate strategic risks that may
impact on the long-term COVID-19 Strategy and response.
Position purpose
To provide support and advice to the Deputy Chief Executive, Group Managers and leadership team
of the Covid-19 Directorate and respond to emerging issues in a strategic manner.
What you’ll do
• Provide senior strategic guidance and advice to the Group Manager, Deputy Chief Executive
COVID-19 Directorate, and to the Senior Leadership Team of the COVID-19 Health System
Response directorate
• Represent the Ministry at government agency meetings and other agreed forums
• In collaboration with others, ensure that the Directorate delivery is based on sound machinery of
Government principles
• Provide oversight and assurance around key risks to the leadership team
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8442 Chief Advisor Government, COVID-19 Strategic Operations – COVID-19 Health System Response – 2020
• Communicate strategic messaging to leadership, ensuring appropriate stakeholders are kept
informed
• Problem solve often and find new solutions and ways of working that can then be shared
• Build collaborative, trusted and positive working relationships within the Covid-19 Directorate
and other staff across the wider Ministry, as well as all key internal and external stakeholders,
particularly within Ministers offices, to understand and influence workstream thinking, planning
and progress
• Apply a broad range of skills, knowledge, cultural intelligence, and an understanding of the Treaty
of Waitangi in action
• Ensure all work reflects our responsibilities to the priority of equity and meeting Treaty of
Waitangi obligations
• Help maintain a safe working environment within the Ministry by complying with and supporting
all health and safety policies, guidelines and initiatives
This position description is intended as an insight to the main tasks and responsibilities required in
the role and may be subject to change in consultation with the job holder.
Leadership profile: Technical Leader
Provides senior technical expertise that informs decision-making and the setting of the Ministry’s
strategic direction.
Lead self Lead others Lead the Ministry
• Be an exemplar of the
Ministry’s desired culture
and Public Sector Spirit of
Service
• Navigate complexity and
ambiguity to deliver
technical outcomes
• Continuously develop and
improve your technical
expertise in line with
relevant industry/sector
trends
• Champion an inclusive,
diverse and safe
workplace where
people thrive
• Provide support to
peers within your team
and across the Ministry
• Convene and
collaborate with key
stakeholders and
customers within the
Ministry and internally
• Demonstrate stewardship through
the way you engage with the health
and/or public sector stakeholders,
building their trust and confidence in
the Ministry
• Lead and shape innovative solutions
for the Ministry and wider sector in
your area of technical expertise
• Draw on data, insights and critical
thinking to make sound decisions
and recommendations for the
Ministry
• Ensure you understand the Ministry’s
strategy and vision and how your
role fits in to the bigger picture
• Take a systems view of the work
you’re responsible for and ensure
you understand the broad
connections and impact of your work
• Ensure you understand and adhere
to the Ministry’s policies and
processes that are relevant to the
work you deliver
Attributes
The COVID Directorate is a fast-paced and changing environment. We need people who have a high
degree of resilience and agility, can expertly connect and collaborate with key stakeholders across
the broader Ministry and All of Government COVID-19 response and manage a highly ambiguous
and changing workload. The relevant competencies within the State Services Leadership Success
Profile are outlined below.
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8442 Chief Advisor Government, COVID-19 Strategic Operations – COVID-19 Health System Response – 2020
Leadership Success Profile
The Public Services Leadership Success Profile (LSP) describes what ‘good’ leadership looks like at
all levels within the New Zealand public sector. While all elements of the LSP are important, the
following leadership competencies are particularly relevant to your leadership role. The leadership
competencies are underpinned by the leadership characters in the LSP.
Leadership Competencies Leadership Characters
• Leading strategically
• Leading with influence
• Engaging others
• Achieving ambitious goals
• Enhancing Ministry performance
• Curious
• Honest and Courageous
• Resilient
• Self aware and agile
You can find further information on the LSP here: https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/resources/leadership-success-
profile
Public Service Purpose / Te Aronga o te Ratonga Tūmatanui
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.
Mō ētahi atu kōrero hei whakamārama i tēnei kaupapa, haere ki
https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/about-us
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.
You can find out more about what this means at https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/about-us
Your health, safety and wellbeing At the Ministry of Health we expect all of our Technical Leaders to:
• Help maintain a safe working environment within the Ministry by complying with and
supporting all health and safety policies, guidelines and initiatives
• Know what to do in the event of an emergency or if a health and safety incident or near miss
occurs
• Know how to keep yourself and others safe at work from hazards and risks relevant to your role.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Ministry of Health welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities,
sexual orientations, disabilities and religions. A requirement of this role is to actively support and
promote our diversity and inclusion principles.
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8442 Chief Advisor Government, COVID-19 Strategic Operations – COVID-19 Health System Response – 2020
What you’ll bring to the role
• An appropriate tertiary level professional qualification and/or significant relevant work experience
• Sound judgement and awareness of the context within which the Ministry and the health system
operate.
• Advanced knowledge of the machinery of Government, risk management, commissioning services,
managing at the political interface
• Strong experience in influencing people, leading work programmes, change management and
facilitation, coaching and mentoring staff and managers
• Experience managing high profile and sensitive issues.
• Significant experience leading sector-wide strategic thinking, work programmes, or risk
management
• Significant experience providing professional, independent and objective advice.
• Strong advisory and communication craft skills including political nous and judgment
• Demonstrated ability to turn strategy into action, to work as part of a senior self-managing team,
and to guide and support others to implement successfully
• Good understanding of equity issues in the health sector, with particular reference to Māori
• Strong cultural awareness and an understanding ot Te Ao Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi and
our obligations under it
• Experience working at a senior level at the political interface
• Experience of the New Zealand health system is highly desirable
