Early in Careers Foreign Policy Officers (Jan 2024)

About Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is the Government's specialist foreign, trade, and development policy advisers, international legal advisers, and negotiators. Their work is challenging, ever-changing, and important to the safety, prosperity, sustainability, and ultimately the well-being of New Zealanders. They're based in Wellington, New Zealand, with an office in Auckland and diplomatic representatives in 50 countries around the world.

Your role

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade's people represents New Zealand on and offshore, supporting the Ministry's work to make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. Their people are diplomats and ambassadors, negotiators, analysts and advisers. They are the Government’s specialist foreign, trade and development policy advisers, international legal advisers and negotiators. These roles are rotational, giving you a unique variety and opportunity to make an impact in a broad range of areas relating to New Zealand’s foreign policy and development interests.

Over the course of your career you may find yourself working to:

• Promote and protect New Zealand's interests overseas
• Contribute to the security and well-being of all New Zealanders
• Provide the Government with advice on foreign affairs, trade and development policies
• Support the Ministry's organisational work programme and priorities
• Support New Zealand’s multilateral engagements including international climate change negotiations, international security issues, international development, international legal issues, and/or negotiating trade agreements
• Engage with a broad variety of stakeholders and partners including Māori, academia, business and civil society
• Organise visits from overseas officials and government representatives to support Ministry-led events such as APEC21
• Engage with other government departments and agencies
• Respond to offshore natural disasters and support recovery efforts
• Deliver New Zealand’s official support for developing countries, with a particular focus on the Pacific Islands region.

Generally, for the first few years as a Policy Officer, you will be based in the company's Wellington headquarters while you complete their Foundations Programme and gain a sound base of knowledge and experience. You will then be eligible to apply for offshore postings.

Training, development & rotations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides a range of opportunities to support and develop their people for the future, including:

• Comprehensive induction
• 12-month Foundations programme
• Leadership development
• In-house career advisory services
• Language training
• A great cohort of graduates to grow alongside you
• Access to a wide range of staff networks (Te Pou Māori, Vaka Pasifika, Rainbow, Women's, Ethnic and many others)

Salary & benefits

They provide many benefits to support their people as part of building and sustaining a happy, high-performing whanau. They are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options.

• Health and wellbeing
• Study assistance
• Family benefits

Career progression

Creating a meaningful career, one that grows and evolves as you do, is so important. With them, you'll have the opportunity to grow, evolve, learn new skills and do work that matters. Their 12-month Foundations programme (Advanced Foundations for Intermediate level Policy Officers) will offer you the practical experience, training and development you need to build a career as unique as you. They'll help you create the career you want, where you confidently tap into your passions and do more with your degree.

Work-life balance

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade is committed to flexible working. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to creating the best flexible working environment. As their value of kotahitanga describes, they draw their strength from their diversity and they can find all sorts of ways of making flexible working work. It's worth noting that flexible working isn’t just about working remotely, it’s also about being flexible with when you work. This could include when you start or end your working day, or having longer or shorter work days depending on the tempo of your work, and other commitments. 

Work-life balance is important to them so they'll work with you to create an arrangement that works for both of them.

Culture & vibe

Inclusion is the key to unlocking the potential of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade's diversity. When people feel that they belong to a workplace, they see higher employee engagement, improved performance, retention of talent, improved staff well-being and lower levels of unacceptable behaviour. MFAT is committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their ‘true’ selves. Their values of kotahitanga (they draw strength from their diversity); and manaakitanga (they honour and respect others) will support them to achieve this as they implement their Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

About you

Minimum Requirements:

• Hold New Zealand citizenship or have submitted an application for New Zealand Citizenship with The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)
• Able to obtain and maintain an appropriate security clearance
• Have completed a minimum of a bachelor’s level qualification - The foreign policy officers have a wide variety of degrees, e.g nursing, law, commerce, science, marketing, veterinary science
• At least 3 months of work experience during (or following on from) your studies - Any type of work experience: part-time/full-time, internships, hospitality, retail, office work, etc
• A willingness to be posted overseas and travel for work - Travel is a key part of the role, however, you will be initially based in Wellington headquarters

Desirable Skills:

In addition to the above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade is looking for people who have SOME of the following skills or experience.

• Mātauranga Māori - Strong skills, perspectives and knowledge from the Māori world, including Māori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi.
• Academic - Outstanding academic achievement demonstrated by: excellent grades, a tertiary academic award or scholarship, or further postgraduate studies
• Languages - Te Reo Māori at an intermediate level or above, or another language at an advanced level/work proficiency; e.g. Pacific languages, North Asian languages, Arabic, etc.
• Cross Cultural Skills - Understanding, experience and ability to engage effectively with Pacific, Pasifika or Māori communities. The ability to move between cultures.
• Leadership experience - School prefect, head of a university student club/association youth leader, community initiatives, religious or cultural groups, workplace etc