Our structureWhat we doWorking for usCorporate and specialist careersForeign Policy CareersScholarshipsVacancies
We accept applications from people with previous public or private sector experience; recent graduates; and university students in the final year of their studies.
You will have:
The resilience and adaptability to serve overseas at any of the Ministry’s posts. We are looking for people who are as able to work in Tehran, Jakarta or Honiara, as they are in New York, London or Paris.
Applicants must be New Zealand citizens and be able to obtain and maintain a New Zealand Government security clearance.
We have a specific need for law graduates to work on the legal aspects of foreign policy and trade policy. These graduates are appointed as policy staff in the general recruitment and should expect to be involved in a wide range of Ministry work during the course of their career, although there is also scope to develop some specialisation in international law. Similarly there is scope for graduates in economics to pursue a foreign service career with a focus on international trade negotiation and economic issues.
The number of newly recruited policy officers recruited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade each year depends on staffing requirements. Applicants are selected through a highly competitive process.
Advertisements are placed on the following websites, www.jobs.govt.nz and www.mahi.co.nz. Applications are submitted and acknowledged online.
If you are interested in applying, please send an email to hrs.recruitment@mfat.govt.nz. We will then contact you when we are next recruiting.
During your career with the Ministry you will have the opportunity to work and develop foreign policy expertise in a broad range of areas; political, economic and trade.
You will start in Wellington working in one of our policy divisions and progress to being assigned to one of our 50 overseas posts (generally within two-to-four years of joining). Throughout, we will help you in your development with both skills and policy-based training.
The decision on your initial placement will depend on the Ministry’s staffing needs and your own expertise and interests. A law graduate might begin in Legal Division; a Japanese linguist in Asia Division; an economist in Economic Division. Equally, however, we might place you somewhere quite different so as to offer you new experiences and challenges.
From the outset you will be involved in a range of policy work that could include researching and drafting briefing papers, responding to ministerial correspondence, keeping our posts informed of relevant developments, arranging official visits and escorting official visitors around New Zealand, and attending international meetings or negotiations. After 2 years you will be transferred to a second division to gain experience in another area of the Ministry’s work.
Our remuneration range is similar to those offered by comparable employers and bench-marked annually against the wider public service. Recruits with relevant work experience will be offered a higher salary than the salary offered to a graduate. From that starting point, salary increases for all officers are based on performance.
Performance is assessed through a performance management system with a formal annual review. You will consult closely with your manager during the year on your work objectives and performance.
Postings overseas are an integral part of a foreign service career. The career pattern is of alternating assignments in Wellington and overseas. The length of an average posting is three - four years.
You can express interest in particular overseas postings but you must also be prepared to take on assignments you may not have expressly sought. Factors that are considered in deciding overseas postings include relevant work experience, language ability and your individual career development.
You must be prepared to cope with frequent change and sometimes difficult living conditions, and be willing and able to adapt to diverse cultural and social environments. This can place stress on partners and families. To help mitigate this, the Ministry has a range of policies to support partners and families.
In return, we will give you the opportunity to work within a strong, usually small, team environment and to get involved in a wide range of tasks. These could include:
The Ministry has an ongoing need for experienced foreign policy staff. If you have resigned from the Ministry you can reapply to join us. Your application will be considered on merit and will depend on the operational needs of the Ministry for policy staff at the time of your application and the level you were working at when you resigned.
You will be required to attend an interview to assess your skills and competencies, and for us to gain a good understanding of what you have been doing during the time you have been away.
If you are interested in rejoining the Ministry, please write to the Recruitment Administrator at hrs.recruitment@mfat.govt.nz or Private Bag 18-901, Wellington. Include details of your previous roles in the Ministry, what you have been doing since you left and why you wish to return.
