Early in careers - Foreign Policy Officer opportunities | New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Let us introduce you to the world of policy, and we’ll show you how you can make a difference for New Zealand's place in the world.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade runs an annual Policy Officer intake - check out our video on what we do and how to apply.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Early in Careers Foreign Policy Officers Programme

Our people are New Zealand's foreign policy, trade and development advisers, international legal advisers, and negotiators. Every day we work to build a safer, more prosperous, and sustainable future for New Zealanders.

The most common pathway into this amazing career is generally soon after university as part of an Early in Careers cohort. To apply for the next intake, click here(external link).

It is important to note that the selection process encompasses many stages of assessment. The initial application process kicks off with a CV, cover letter and an online questionnaire which will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. From there, shortlisted applicants will be invited to complete online assessments. The final selection stage is an in-person assessment centre in Wellington. Candidates will be notified of outcomes at each stage of the recruitment process.

2025 Key Dates

Wednesday 13 August	Applications close
Late August	Psychometric Testing and Video Introductions
Mid-September	Written exercise
Early October	In-person assessment centre in Wellington
November	Pre-employment checks
December	Offers of Employment
Early 2026	New cohort starts

Want more information?

Our website contains helpful resources on the role of a Foreign Policy Officer and what the day-to-day job looks like.

Throughout the month of July and August, the MFAT recruitment team will be hosting online webinars on various topics, ranging from a day in the life of a foreign policy officer and tips to help you put your best foot forward through the recruitment process. The webinars are hosted by Microsoft Teams.

Topic	Date
What is MFAT's role and what do our people do?	23 July, 12:00-12:45 Register here(external link)
Meet some Foreign Policy Officers	30 July, 12:00-12:45 Register here(external link)
The Early in Careers Foundations Programme	6 August, 12:00-12:45 Register here(external link)
Demystifying the Early in Careers recruitment process	13 August , 12:00-12:45 Register here(external link)

Samara Fischer, Senior Resourcing Adviser at MFAT will also be writing a weekly blog on various graduate and Early in Careers recruitment topics throughout July and August. You can check out her blog through her personal LinkedIn page here(external link).

Still have some questions? Email graduate.recruitment@mfat.govt.nz and we will get back to you in due course. You can also text or call Samara directly on 021 650 475 during office hours.

Minimum requirements

Criteria	More details
Hold New Zealand citizenship	Applicants must be New Zealand citizens at the time of application and demonstrate an enduring and ongoing connection to New Zealand.
Able to obtain and maintain an appropriate security clearance	Security clearance requirements
Have completed a minimum of a bachelor’s level qualification by February 2026	Our Foreign Policy Officers have a wide variety of degrees. International Relations, International Development, Law, Public Policy, Economics, Sciences, Global/Pacific Studies are some of the disciplines represented at MFAT.
At least 3 months’ work experience during (or following on from) your studies	Any type of work experience: part time/full time, internships, hospitality, retail, office work, etc
Less than 3 years' experience in Public Policy (or similar)	This is a role for people early in their careers. If you have more than three years' experience working in Policy, you may be too experienced for this intake.

Desirable skills

In addition to the above, we're looking for people who have some of the following skills or experience.

Experience/skill	Example
Academic	Outstanding academic achievement demonstrated by excellent grades, or a tertiary academic award, or further postgraduate studies.
Languages	Language capability either to tertiary level or native speaker e.g. Pacific languages, North Asian languages, Arabic, Spanish, French etc.
Cross Cultural Skills	Understanding, experience and ability to engage effectively with Pasifika, Māori and ethnic communities. The ability to move between cultures.
Leadership experience	School prefect, head of university student club/association youth leader, community initiatives, religious or cultural groups, workplace etc.
Māori protocol, customs and cultural diplomacy	Skills, perspectives and knowledge from the Māori world, including Māori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Myth busters — Job requirements

Mythbusters

Here are some myths about our student graduate and intermediate policy officer roles requirements.

Do I need a double degree or post graduate qualification to be eligible?

While there is a preference for conjoint degrees and post graduate qualifications, our minimum requirement is a bachelor’s level qualification.

Are only those with law degrees considered?

We're keen to see different skills from a mix of academic backgrounds, so as long as you have a genuine interest in the work we do, we’ll consider any bachelor’s degree.

Do I need to be an A+ student?

We’re looking for people with a balance of academic achievement, drive and great people skills. For example, we value the skills that your experience in moving between different cultures can bring, as well as any volunteer or leadership experience you may have.

Do I need to speak another language?

It’s an advantage if you have language skills, but it is not a requirement. Opportunities are available if you’re interested in learning another language ahead of a posting offshore.