The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission opened its doors on 9 February 2021 to bring leadership and oversight to the transformation of our mental health and addiction system, and to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa.

Our Mental Health and Addiction team have a significant work programme, which includes:

• promoting alignment and coordination of the mental health and addiction sector
• assessment, monitoring, and reporting on mental health and addiction services
• advocating for improvement of services and the sector
• advocating for the collective interests of people with lived experience of mental distress or addiction (or both), and the people, family, and whānau who support them

The Principal Policy Advisor position plays an important role in the delivery of critical pieces of work. This will include providing quality policy advice on areas noted above, leading specific insights and advocacy projects, and writing reports and submissions. The role will also provide oversight and advice into other team members projects.

We are looking for someone with significant policy, strategy, planning or research experience. Ideally, some of your experience will be within the mental health and addiction sector and you will be able to show an understanding of service commissioning and/or service delivery.

You will be able to demonstrate leading pieces of complex work that demonstrate you have strong critical thinking skills, significant research experience, and advanced writing skills.

This is a great time to join our small team and contribute to improving mental health and wellbeing for Māori, for our priority population groups, and for all people living in Aotearoa.