External Partnerships Advisor

This role is based in Wellington.

• Build influential relationships across New Zealand’s government and trade ecosystem

• Help solve real issues affecting New Zealand exporters

• Bring together government and business perspectives to support better outcomes for our customers

• Wellington-based role with plenty of opportunity to learn and grow

Who are we

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is New Zealand’s international business development agency. We use our knowledge, networks and connections to help New Zealand businesses grow internationally, for the good of New Zealand.

What you’ll be doing

As our External Partnerships Advisor, you’ll sit at the intersection of government and business, helping NZTE build strong connections across the New Zealand government system and making those relationships work for our customers.

You’ll build trusted relationships with agencies including MFAT, MBIE, MPI, Customs and Treasury, making sure they understand NZTE’s priorities and the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand exporters.

A big part of your role will be helping our Customer Managers navigate government-related issues on behalf of businesses. That could mean connecting with the right agency to work through a market-access issue, helping clarify regulatory requirements, or bringing the right people together to help resolve a more complex challenge for a business or an industry.

You’ll also help coordinate NZTE’s input into government policy, and delivery of value to export businesses alongside other government partners. While you won’t need to be the expert on every issue, your strength will be understanding the landscape, finding the right expertise across NZTE, and bringing together a clear, coordinated response.

There’s plenty of variety here. One day you might be meeting with another government agency about export support, the next helping solve an issue for a customer, and the next bringing together NZTE perspectives on a developing policy issue.

What you’ll need to be successful

We’re looking for someone who understands how government works and is genuinely interested in the connection between trade, economic development and business.

You may currently be working in policy, government relations, economic development, trade or another part of the public sector. Private-sector or export experience would be valuable too, but it’s not essential.

You’ll bring:

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to connect people, perspectives and information

• The judgement to work through issues, identify who needs to be involved and keep things moving

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to turn complex information into something useful and practical

• A collaborative, curious and flexible approach, with a willingness to learn and get involved beyond a tightly defined set of tasks

• Experience working within or alongside the New Zealand public sector, with the confidence to build relationships and represent NZTE with other agencies

• An understanding of New Zealand’s trade and economic landscape, ideally including trade or export policy

Knowledge of Māori economic development and the Māori economy would be particularly valuable, and experience or interest in science and technology policy would also be an advantage.

You don’t need to arrive as a senior policy expert. What’s important is that you have enough experience and confidence to operate independently with NZTE’s key government stakeholders, coupled with the curiosity, ambition and potential to keep developing. This role offers plenty of opportunity to build your knowledge through exposure to NZTE, government agencies, business and the wider NZ Inc system.

This role is Wellington-based and requires the successful candidate to be able to obtain a Confidential security clearance, including a five-year checkable background.

Please use this self-check tool below to find out if you might be eligible to apply for a national security clearance: Eligibility self-check tool | Protective Security Requirements

Why you'll love working here

This is a great opportunity if you enjoy seeing how the different parts of government and business fit together and want to use that understanding to make a tangible difference for New Zealand companies.

You’ll join a collaborative team with exposure across NZTE and the wider government system, while building expertise in international trade, economic development and the issues that matter to New Zealand exporters.

At NZTE, we know diverse teams are stronger teams. We welcome different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box.

This role is banded NZ L16.

What’s next

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply online with your CV and cover letter telling us why this opportunity interests you and what you’d bring to the role.