Senior Advisor

The Crown Response Office was established in September 2024 to coordinate and facilitate cross-government decision making and implement the Crown's response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. The Office sits within the Public Service Commission. The creation of the Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation in the Royal Commission's final report, Whanaketia - through pain and trauma, from darkness to light.

The Crown Response Office plays an important strategic, advisory and coordination role to ensure the Crown is joined up and focused on the right priorities.

We are looking for a Senior Advisor to join our Specialised Assessment Unit in Wellington, supporting the Serious Offender Process and the Independent Review Function.

The Serious Offender Process, established under the Redress System for Abuse in Care Act 2026 and overseen by the Independent Redress Officer, supports decisions on whether survivors with certain serious convictions are eligible for financial redress. The Independent Review Function gives survivors the opportunity to have the outcome of their eligible redress claim independently reviewed, with the Independent Reviewer making non-binding recommendations to the redress agency.

This is a 2-year position, available on a fixed term or secondment basis, to help build a fair and survivor-centred redress process and work on complex and sensitive matters that require sound judgement, care and attention to detail.

Reporting to the Manager Redress Programme, you will provide operational, analytical and secretariat support across specialist assessment and review processes. You will manage applications and reviews, analyse information, prepare high-quality decision-support material and support the Independent Redress Officer and the Independent Reviewer.

You will engage with a range of people and organisations, including survivors and their representatives, redress agencies, the State Redress Service, the Ministry of Justice, courts, Corrections and other justice sector agencies. The work involves highly sensitive and potentially distressing information, including criminal conviction and sentencing information that is needed to consider Serious Offender Process applications, so you will need to be comfortable working with it. You will apply legislation, policy and procedural requirements in situations where sound judgement and procedural fairness are critical.

Key responsibilities include:

Managing and supporting Serious Offender Process applications and independent reviews, including case tracking, criminal conviction, sentencing and court information requests, and secure record keeping.

Analysing complex information and preparing clear, accurate and decision-ready case materials, referrals, briefings, correspondence and records.

Coordinating secretariat support for the Independent Redress Officer and the Independent Reviewer, including review applications, hearings and meetings.

Working respectfully with survivors and their representatives to progress their applications and reviews, and with redress agencies, courts, Corrections and other stakeholders to resolve operational issues.

Providing practical advice and guidance on operational, legislative, privacy and procedural matters.

Contributing to quality assurance, reporting, workflow monitoring and continuous improvement across the specialist assessment and review functions.

You will ideally bring:

Strong experience in complex operational, regulatory, statutory, legal, justice sector, claims or case management work, preferably within a public sector environment.

Experience supporting review, complaints, dispute resolution, investigation, administrative decision-making or similar processes.

The ability to interpret and apply legislation, policy and procedural requirements and exercise sound judgement on complex matters.

Strong analytical and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear and accurate case analysis, briefings, correspondence and decision-support material.

Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and follow work through to completion.

Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively across agencies and with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Experience handling highly sensitive personal information with discretion and care, and an understanding of privacy, information security, natural justice and confidentiality obligations.

Understanding of te ao Maori, tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, or a commitment to building capability in these areas.

* Experience working with survivors, claimants, advocates or representatives in sensitive contexts, with an understanding of trauma-informed, survivor-centred and culturally responsive practice.

The full-time salary for this role is between $108,003 and $144,460 depending on skills and experience.

This is a 2-year fixed term position to support the initial operating period for the Serious Offender Process and the Independent Review Function. During this time the role will help embed operational processes and build capability while the longer-term operating model is considered.

Applications will close at midnight on Sunday 15 November 2026.

To apply for this role you must have the right to live and work in New Zealand. For questions or if you are having technical difficulties applying online please email [email protected].