ROLE DESCRIPTION
Role Title: Principal Advisor – Strategy (fixed term/secondment – 12 months)
Number and Title of Direct Reports:
Directorate: Operations
Budget:
Reports to: Team Manager Strategy
Remuneration Grade: 23
Location: Wellington
Delegation level:
Role of Tertiary Education Commission (Te Amorangi Matauranga Matua)
The TEC seeks to develop a world-leading education system that will equip all New Zealanders with the knowledge, skills and values to be successful citizens in
the 21st century. To do so, TEC needs to direct the Government’s investment in the provision of high-quality post-secondary school education effectively.
The TEC’s mission is to ensure New Zealand’s future success, and we have a strong focus on ensuring all New Zealanders are equipped with the knowledge and
skills they need for lifelong success.
We work with the tertiary sector to build partnerships, effectively fund the delivery of tertiary education, as well as championing its benefits and encouraging
people’s aspirations to take part. To do this, our staff must be increasingly more capable and have the right tools to deliver. We work hard to ensure we provide
the right opportunities for our own success.
Everything we do is guided by the Tertiary Education Strategy 2014-2019.
Our Values
You will model our core values:
• We aim high (Whaia te iti Kahurangi)
• We partner for success (Hongona)
• We work as one (Kotahitanga)
• We learn and innovate (Ngaiotanga)
More information can be found on our website: www.tec.govt.nz
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Directorate:
Operations Directorate
The Operations Directorate is responsible for end-to-end delivery of all sector-facing activities. Areas of responsibility and accountability include developing
strategy in response to the government’s tertiary education sector priorities, including leadership of TEC’s approach to impact/add value to tertiary education
and monitoring progress against the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES). The Directorate is also responsible for developing and implementing operational
strategies to support funding allocations, managing TEO investment cycles and the reviewing of financial performance of TEOs and TEIs, managing sector
relationships including the provision of support and advice.
Role Purpose:
The Principal Advisor, Strategy leads a small team of senior advisors to fulfil two broad functions for TEC:
To provide high-quality input into policy advice and TEC Plan Guidance, which involves leading the team to:
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Identify strategic or policy matters of importance to TEC;
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Facilitate the collaborative development of TEC-wide views on these matters;
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Input these views into relevant policy development processes at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and other
Government agencies, making smart use of formal and informal processes and relationships; and
•
Express these views through Plan Guidance (and other relevant vehicles) and support their implementation within TEC.
To set, share, and report on a strategic direction and associated work programme, which involves leading the team to:
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Support the Manager Strategy to articulate and share, both internally and externally, the TEC’s strategic direction and associated work programme (in coordination with the Principal Advisor, Performance and Accountability and other Strategy Team colleagues);
•
Report to the Deputy Chief Executive Operations, the Senior Management Team, the Board, and the Minister on TEC’s progress toward its strategic direction
and associated work programme, including through formal quarterly and annual reporting (in co-ordination with the Principal Advisor, Performance and
Accountability);
•
Identify and manage key strategic opportunities and risks for TEC through regular environmental scanning; and
•
Support the Senior Management Team to engage with the Board, the Minister, and other senior decision-makers on strategic matters of importance to TEC.
The role also acts as a first point of contact between TEC and other Government agencies, and is the administrative home for requests for feedback and
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information from other Government agencies.
Key Accountabilities:
•
Work across TEC and with key staff in other agencies to ensure that TEC’s operational perspective is communicated in the development of tertiary
education and other relevant policy;
•
Identify and initiate advice on strategy where TEC and the sector needs to better understand how to increase the value of tertiary education;
•
Credibly represent the TEC in interactions with expert stakeholders to forecast the operational impacts on the tertiary education system;
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Support the development and dissemination of TEC’s strategic direction;
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Identify environmental opportunities and risks for TEC as it pursues its strategic direction, and provide advice to decision-makers about how to respond
operationally to stay on track;
•
Work with the TES Principal Advisors to develop cross-cutting strategies that will make a significant difference for Māori and Pacific people, and support
the reflection of these priorities in policy development across Government;
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Work with the Principal Advisor, Performance and Accountability to co-ordinate formal reporting against the Statement of Intent;
•
Manage and lead the role’s direct reports to function effectively as a high-performing team; and
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Manage own health and safety in conjunction with organisational support systems to ensure a safe working environment.
Key Relationships:
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Relevant managers and staff at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Treasury, and other relevant
Government agencies;
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Monitoring staff at the Ministry of Education;
•
TEC Managers, Principal Advisors, and Lead Advisors.
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Knowledge, Experience and Skills Required:
Required:
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Leadership and management capability, including the ability to lead the development and dissemination of new ideas;
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Strong relationship management skills;
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Critical and analytical thinking skills, and a professional qualification in a discipline that provides a sound analytical framework for strategic thinking;
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Practical problem-solving skills and a “can do” approach to novel situations;
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Good understanding of the machinery of government; and
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Well-developed written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills.
Desirable:
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Excellent time management and personal organisation;
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Detailed knowledge of policy processes (including Cabinet, Budget, and Vote management processes);
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Detailed knowledge of the tertiary education funding system; and
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The ability to lead by example in promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative working.
TEC Core Competencies:
TEC staff working as one organisation are expected to demonstrate the following competencies:
Connects with people – Level 3
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Quickly picks up messages (verbal and non) from groups and adjusts style accordingly
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Understands the values and motivators for specific groups and plays to these
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Encourages innovative thought and approach in all staff, systems and processes
Is a team player – Level 3
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Is highly respected for being mindful of their peers
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Has good open relationships across the organisation
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Is highly respected for their candour with peers
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Freely shares useful information and viewpoints without betraying confidences
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Works across the organisation and puts the organisation’s interests first
Is an ambassador and champion for ‘One TEC’ – Level 3
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Shares the organisational vision in a way that includes all staff and ensures they are connected to the organisational direction
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Actively works across the organisation taking no regard of informal boundaries and gatekeepers to get the best possible outcomes
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Develops and nurtures networks across the organisation to effect change at all levels
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Is an adept storyteller – sharing the direction of the organisation with others within the organisation and outside
Is innovative and breaks barriers - Level 3
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Has a sense of how and where creative ideas and suggestions will work
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Is unafraid to suggest new and different approaches
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Can sell new ideas in a tough environment
Has the cultural capability to drive beneficial outcomes for Māori learners
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Proactively considers ways to ensure Māori learners enjoy and achieve tertiary education success, and acts on them
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Thinks, plans and incorporates tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori into our business and practices
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Understands and encourages self and others to embrace Māori cultural capability
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Role Specific Competencies:
Communication – Level 3
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Uses clear and concise oral and written communications
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Uses influencing techniques and strategies
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Writes and speaks persuasively, information is relevant and compelling
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Uses consultative approach to decision-making
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Uses negotiation skills to maintain relationships
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Communicates unpopular decisions tactfully
The role-specific competencies required for this role are:
Thinks and acts strategically – Level 3
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Sees not only the big picture but also the steps required to achieve it
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Takes advantage of sector knowledge to develop relevant and effective strategic plans
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Looks to the long term requirements of the organisation to develop effective strategic plans and maps back from this point
Manages risks – Level 3
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Always identifies the best solutions to problems and issues
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Analyses situations effectively and quickly and applies solutions that are future-proofed
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Thinks outside the box and looks for multiple options
Takes accountability and manages performance – Level 3
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Manages work effectively by assigning responsibilities clearly
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Sets clear objectives by agreeing what needs to be achieved
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Is a master at providing timely feedback to improve performance and results
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Delivers a balance of positive and corrective comment and/ or actions designed to improve outcomes and maintain momentum
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Uses excellent process measures to track the progress of work making adjustments to deliverables as and when required
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Role Specific Competencies:
Is innovative and breaks barriers – Level 3
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Has a keen insight about what will work and what won’t
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Motivates others to find new ways of looking at things
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Pushes great ideas to become reality
Is organised and systematic – Level 3 (Technical/Professional competency)
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Regularly works on a large number of projects simultaneously
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Anticipates potential problems and develops contingency plans accordingly
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Expertly defines and allocates resources
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Knows where to get anything, any time
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Maintains highly organised and efficient records to ensure organisational knowledge is available
Written communications – Level 3 (Technical/Professional competency)
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Is an excellent writer, written communication is always clear and concise
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Is skilled at bringing the most important information to the fore in all communications
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Is a versatile writer employing a variety of styles and approaches for the audience
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Does an excellent job of writing for the reader rather than for themselves
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