A WORD FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER

Nobody expected 2020 to play out the way that it did. 

COVID-19 had brought about many unprecedented challenges, not just in New Zealand, but worldwide. And like you, we managed in the very best way we could for all our staff, clients, candidates, friends, and families. 

Despite the crisis, however, our team didn’t slow down. We remained innovative and continued to operate and support our clients and candidates in the background.

As we walk the early days of 2021, we do so knowing that we have done the very best that we could during what was a very a difficult situation. Both The Johnson Group and our parent company, Alpha Recruitment, stand stronger and wiser. 

The Johnson Group is a 100% New Zealand owned and operated business; and we are here to support each other and our beautiful country. We’ve been around for over 20 years, and we look forward to being around for another 20. We look forward to catching up with you soon, and you can trust us when we say we’re prepared for whatever 2021 may bring! 

Happy New Year!

THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF RECRUITMENT

It has been a busy start to the year, with a mixture of contract, fixed-term, and permanent vacancies coming through from a number of areas. 

Hourly rate contracting has picked up, but pressures on agencies have meant a preference for fixed-term engagement and a shorter term for hourly rate roles. However, as people return from their summer breaks, and we get more clarity on the direction the government wants to take, we’d expect this trend to change. 

As Labour moves into its second term, this government has an opportunity to hit the ground running and move forward with some major policy reforms; with key areas of note including Housing, Infrastructure, Labour market reform, Climate Change and RMA reform, to name a few. 

The next six months will be key to creating the momentum required for successful delivery on some of these projects over the coming term, which should result in a busier contracting market.

As for the rise in permanent roles, we have seen an increasing use of recruitment agencies as the market’s pool of candidates becomes diluted between a greater volume of jobs. Once again, we find that the key motivations for candidates continue to be the manager they will work for, the type of work, and a competitive salary.

If you are a hiring manager, now is a great time to look at your options, set priorities and plan appropriately for what your recruitment needs might look like for 2021.

If you’d like to have a chat around your recruitment and team requirements, feel free to contact us at any time on (04) 473-6699.

Cheers,

Clive, James, Lisa, Marissa, and Michelle

SENIOR ADVISOR - MINISTERIAL CORRESPONDENCE

Experience:

An experienced public sector professional with an extensive background in Ministerial advisory, official correspondence and government policy. They have recently held roles at MfE, MoJ, MoE and IRD. They have been responsible for all Written Parliamentary Questions in Ministerial Services, Writes Ministerial reports, Aide Memoires, Memos, Education Reports and OIAs. 

Skills:

• Knowledge of the workings of New Zealand government, including OIAs, Ministerial reports, Aide Memoires, Memos, parliamentary questions and Budget decision making and Cabinet processes
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including press and social media
• Excellent time management and ability to problem solve
• Strong project management skills and managing the implementation of policies
• Excellent relationship management skills

Qualifications:

• BA (Linguistics),Victoria University of Wellington (1994 to 1997)
• Member of the Writer’s Guild of New Zealand

Hourly rate expectations: $120.19 per hour including AoG plus GST

Reference ID: 24623

Contact: James Atkin or Lisa Johnston (04) 473-6699

PROGRAMME MANAGER / PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

Experience:

A contractor with ten years’ experience in leadership roles in the public sector specialising in executive and ministerial advice and support, stakeholder engagement, governance and project management. PROSCI certified and experienced in planning and leading organisational change, with a specific focus on cultural change and developing high performance workplaces.

Prior to joining the public sector, this contractor was a marketing and communication specialist with experience in media and professional services.

Skills:

• Experienced public sector professional
• Strong generalist skills set covering policy, project, operational and BAU
• Management of the policy development process
• Project and Change management
• Strategy, planning and operational management
• Experience establishing a new agency
• Strong economic understanding
• Machinery of government
• Political nous with the ability to work with ministers and senior management
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal

Qualifications:

• Master of Science in Public Policy and Mgt - Carnegie Mellon University, 2006-2007   
• Bachelor of Business in marketing and communication - South Australian Institute of Technology (UniSA), 1982-1985

Hourly rate expectations: $144.23 per hour including AoG, plus GST
Reference ID: 29959

Contact: James Atkin or Lisa Johnston (04) 473-6699

PRINCIPAL / SENIOR ADVISOR

Experience:

A legally qualified Principal / Senior Advisor with a strong background in policy spanning across a number of government agencies. They have recently been the primary author and analyst for a discussion document on a large piece of reform work. While also spearheading the strategy and plan for public engagement. Prior to this they have been in contract roles at MPI, NZ Customs, MoJ and TPK. They have strong regulatory experience and are an expert in legislative development.

Skills:

• Legally qualified Principal / Senior Policy Advisor
• Strategic, regulatory and operational policy analysis
• Legislation development
• Analytical
• Cross-agency collaboration
• Machinery of government – cabinet and house process
• Politically and strategically savvy
• Excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws (Honours, First Class) – University of Otago – 2003
• Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) – University of Otago – 2003
• Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand – 2003
• Institute of Professional Legal Studies – 2003
• Workplace Training including: Policy Leaders Workshop, Advanced Policy Analysis, Advanced Relationship Management and Project Management – 2004 - 2014
• Certificate in Business Coaching – Southern Institute of Technology – 2016 

Hourly rate expectations: $156.25 per hour including AoG plus GST
Reference ID: 5705

Contact: James Atkin or Lisa Johnston (04) 473-6699

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Experience:

A senior communications and engagement professional with a track record of effectively delivering large complex projects and programmes across the public sector. They have an excellent working knowledge of engaging with Māori, iwi and hapū. Most recently they have held contract roles at DoC, MoH, MBIE and TEC.   

Skills:

• Communications and stakeholder engagement
• Māori, iwi and hapū engagement
• Cross agency collaboration
• Machinery of government
• Budget management and implementation
• Commissioning projects and programmes
• Operational delivery
• Resource management
• Identifying, managing and mitigating risk
• Strategy development
• Directorship and governance
• Policy design and implementation

Qualifications:

• Advanced Policy Leadership Certificate: Victoria University
• Certified Prince2 Practitioner
• Certified APMG Change Management Practitioner
• NZ Certificate in Regulatory Compliance: Level 3 – New Zealand Qualifications Authority
• Lean Thinking – Continuing Education Short Course through University of Auckland
• IAP2: Australasian Certificate in Engagement (Essentials, On-line, Facilitation and Methods)
• Certificate in Company Direction – Institute of Company Directors in New Zealand Inc
• PGDip in Secondary Teaching – Christchurch Teachers College
• Bachelor of Consumer and Applied Science – Otago University

Hourly rate expectations: $144.23 per hour including AoG plus GST

Reference ID: 33826

Contact: James Atkin or Lisa Johnston (04) 473-6699

MANAGER

Experience:

In their current role this candidate manages 7 direct reports in the negotiations team. They lead policy development (including Maori policy, providing information to Ministers, Cabinet Committees and Select Committees). This candidate has strong stakeholder engagement skills including claimant groups, claimant community, and the Chief Crown Negotiator; and has proven experience in government, Treaty of Waitangi, sector and Māori-Crown policy perspectives and frameworks.

Skills:

• Extensive experience in Managing and leading complex projects
• Negotiating complex issues and developing strategies
• Strong relationship management 
• Leading, mentoring and coaching staff including 7 direct reports
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Preparation of budgets and forecasting
• Monitoring policy developments and research

Qualifications:

• Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
• BA majoring in Social Policy
• Te Reo Māori papers

Salary expectations: $150,000.00
Reference ID: 11003

Contact: Clive Horne or Michelle Thomas on (04) 473-6699

PRINCIPAL 

Experience:

This candidate is currently a Principal Advisor helping develop and implement commercial assurance framework. They have a strong background in management and mentoring, helping enhance their analytical and critical-thinking skills. This candidate has helped provided strategic advice, contributed to internal and external stakeholder relationship management and overall business improvement.

Skills:

• Teamwork & LeadershipTraining
• Coaching & Mentoring
• Stakeholder management
• Quality Management Systems
• Environmental Management Systems
• Health & Safety Management Systems
• Commercial acumen
• Legislation and regulation
• Assurance
• Auditing

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Sciences (Hons.), majoring in Biology
• Doctoral Programme, Biomedical Sciences (PhD candidate)

Salary expectations: $155,000.00
Reference ID: 26070

Contact: Clive Horne or Michelle Thomas on (04) 473-6699

SENIOR  

Experience:

This candidate is currently a Senior Analyst. During their time in this role they have accumulated significant policy analysis, especially with Crown-Maori/Pacifica policy perspectives.

They have strong stakeholder engagement skills, including Iwi, hapū and whānau groups. This candidate is a strong natural leader who is driven by a good team and enjoys mentoring and coaching junior staff.  

Skills:

• Experience with Maori policy perspectives and frameworks
• Te Reo Maori
• International policy and policy analysis
• Project Management
• Advocacy
• Critical thinking
• Leading and mentoring junior staff
• Process and System change

Qualifications:

• Te Herenga Waka -Bachelor of Arts
  Double Major- International Relations and Political Science
  Minor- Social Policy

Salary expectations: $120,000.00
Reference ID: 30335

Contact: Clive Horne or Michelle Thomas on (04) 473-6699

ADVISOR

Experience:

This candidate is currently working as a Policy Analyst. In this role they look at sprinkler standards and fire evacuations plan regulations. The candidate helped write Ministerial briefings to the Minister and wrote cabinet papers for the Legislation committee. Some of their current duties include, responding to the productivity commissions report on local Government funding, project planning and management.

Skills:

• Professional analyst in the private and public sector
• Qualitative and Quantitative techniques
• Business improvement
• Commercial and Policy
• Policy development, processes and machinery of government
• Legal

Qualifications:

• Professional Legal Studies Course
• Bachelor of Laws
• Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (Operations Research)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Operations Management & Marketing)

Salary expectations: $80,000.00
Reference ID: 34057

Contact: Clive Horne or Michelle Thomas on (04) 473-6699

CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

Feel free to contact the team directly to see more contractor and permanent candidates.