Contents

Position Description Pages 2 – 5Guide for applicants Pages 6 – 9Application Form Pages 10 – 17

Position Description

Position Deputy State Services Commissioner

Department State Services Commission

Position purpose The State Services Commission (SSC) leads the Public sector to improve outcomes and services for New Zealand and New Zealanders, while protecting and enhancing the standards of integrity and conduct. The Deputy State Services Commissioner works closely and collaboratively with the State Services Commissioner to provide leadership and oversight of the sector.

The Deputy State Services Commissioner is a statutory role. Under section 12(1) of the State Sector Act 1988, the Deputy State Services Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General in Council on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Subject to the control of the State Services Commissioner, the Deputy State Services Commissioner has and may exercise all or some of the functions, duties and powers of the State Services under the State Services Act 1988.

The Deputy State Services Commissioner must be prepared to lead as Head of State Services when the State Services Commissioner is vacant or absent from duty for any reason, and automatically exercises these functions, duties and powers. The Deputy State Services Commissioner also provides support to the State Services Commissioner in the exercise of their responsibilities as Chief Executive of SSC.

The Deputy State Services Commissioner will demonstrate and exemplify the spirit of service ethos, and assist the State Services Commissioner to deliver on SSC’s vision for a more connected and engaged, world class Public Service that is ready for the future and is agile, adaptive and able to meet the needs and demands of the day.

Key external relationships

Government and Parliament:

Prime Minister, Minister of State Services and all other Ministers: The Deputy State Services Commissioner will establish and maintain effective trusted relationships with, and provide advice and support to Ministers. The Deputy State Services Commissioner will work to ensure the Public Service is best placed to achieve the objectives of the Government, and to frame and implement Government policy.

In matters relating to decisions on individual Public Service chief executives, the Deputy State Services Commissioner is not responsible to the Minister of State Services, and shall act independently, except as provided in sections 35, 36, 38 and 39 of the State Sector Act 1988.

Sector:

Public Service chief executives and other leaders: The Deputy State Services Commissioner is at the forefront of building and maintaining effective relationships with chief executives as individuals and as a cohort, as well as leading and contributing to chief executive governance groups and collective system leadership, including the State Services Leadership Team.

Wider State services: SSC works collaboratively with departments and departmental agencies, non-Public Service departments and Crown entities.

SSC is the host department for the Social Investment Agency. The Social Investment Agency and

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the Leadership Development Centre are part of SSC.

Communities and the public:

External stakeholders: develop and maintaining relevant and effective relationships including community and business links to promote the role of the State services and SSC.

International jurisdictions and contacts.

Performance profile

Accountabilities System leadership

Subject to the control of the State Services Commissioner, the Deputy State Services Commissioner may exercise all or some of the functions, powers and duties of the State Services Commissioner, including:

Reviewing governance and structures across all areas of government, and advising on improvements to the performance, functioning and structure of the State sector system;

Developing senior leadership and management capability in the Public Service, including succession planning and developing current and future leaders of the Public Service both individually and as a cohort team;

Promoting the development of workforce capability and capacity in the Public sector, and promoting good-employer obligations in the Public Service. Including working with chief executives to attract and retain a diverse Public Service, leading a system-wide response to reduce and close the gender pay gap, and promoting high standards in workplace relations and employment matters;

Providing strategic oversight and direction for all Public Service chief executive appointments and reappointments and managing and reviewing chief executive performance;

Reviewing the performance of departments and departmental agencies and assisting agencies to improve;

Promoting and reinforcing high standards of integrity and conduct in the State services to ensure the confidence of New Zealanders is maintained;

Promoting open government and transparent accountability;

Exercising any other functions for the administration and management of the Public Service as directed by the Prime Minister; and

Undertaking investigations or inquiries as required.

Critical success priorities

SSC leadership

The Deputy State Services Commissioner provides support to the State Services Commissioner in the exercise of their responsibilities as Chief Executive, including:

Ensuring effective organisational governance and providing leadership in operational matters;

Ensuring SSC’s responsiveness to Government priorities and interests;

Planning and actively managing for SSC’s medium term and long term interests, including capability, information and privacy stewardship, legislation administered by SSC, and managing the assets and liabilities of the Crown;

Providing high quality and free and frank advice to the Government on organisational matters, and the performance, functioning and structure of the State sector system;

Responsibility for the integrity and conduct of employees of SSC;

Contributing to setting the strategic direction of SSC, establishing priorities and ensuring the allocation of resources required to achieve this;

Managing the SSC Senior Leadership Team, ensuring development and succession plans are in place for senior leaders and representing their interests to the Career Boards; and

Contributing to building a culture of working collaboratively with external parties and developing strong partnerships, in both the public and private sectors.

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Person profile

Person specific competencies

The competencies outlined below are the specific requirements of the role at this time. To see the full range of capabilities required go to: https://www.ssc.govt.nz/leadership-success-profile

Leading strategically

Think, plan, and act strategically; to engage others in the vision, and position teams, organisations, and sectors to meet customer and future needs.

Leading with influence

Lead and communicate in a clear, persuasive, and impactful way; to convince others to embrace change and take action.

Achieving through others

Effectively delegate and maintain oversight of work responsibilities; to leverage the capability of direct reports and staff to deliver outcomes for customers.

Enhancing people performance

Manage people performance and bring out the best in managers and staff; to deliver high quality results for customers.

Enhancing organisational performance

Drive innovation and continuous improvement; to sustainably strengthen long-term organisational performance and improve outcomes for customers.

Leading at the political interface

Bridge the interface between Government and the Public Sector; to engage political representatives and shape and implement the Government’s policy priorities.

Resilient Show composure, grit, and a sense of perspective when the going gets tough; to help others maintain optimism and focus.

Security Clearance Appointment will be subject to a New Zealand Government Top Secret Special security clearance.

Up to date information on the State Services Commission’s outcomes, organisational structure, dimensions and appropriations can be found on the website: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/.

SSC’s Annual Report 2018 is available here: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/ar2018.

Other useful information also available through the following link: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/information-releases. This includes links to the Briefings to the Incoming Government and to the Incoming Minister of State Services, both released following the 2017 Election.

Leadership Success Profile

Guide for applicants

Position Deputy State Services Commissioner

Department State Services Commission

Purpose This guide provides information about the process for the recruitment and selection of the Deputy State Services Commissioner.

Contact person If you have any questions during this process, please do not hesitate to contact one of the consultants supporting this recruitment:

Dave Hollander – Director, JacksonStone and Partners

E: david.hollander@jacksonstone.co.nz

T: +64 4 550 8006

M: +64 21 892 882

Making an application

General Your application for this position should include:

A short cover letter expressing interest in the position A current curriculum vitae detailing your work history (including dates

and position titles), educational qualifications, and your preferred contact details

A fully completed application formFurther information has been detailed below. You should make your application via email to Dave Hollander – Director, JacksonStone and Partners.

E: david.hollander@jacksonstone.co.nz

Application form Section A – Competency self-assessment

This competency self-assessment section will be used to assist in the process of evaluating applicants.

Please provide at least two examples for each competency detailing projects, tasks or occasions where you have demonstrated each of the competencies described in Section A of the application form.

These competency descriptors are based on the Leadership Success Profile. The full leadership success profile is available from the State Services Commission’s (SSC) website, please visit www.ssc.govt.nz/leadership-success-profile for more information.

Application form Section B – Referee details

This section asks you to provide the details of referees who can help us create a 360 degree picture of your personal attributes, behaviours, and skills in relation to those detailed in the position description. These referees will be your current and previous managers, peers, junior staff members, direct reports, or others.

Please ensure you provide each referee’s name, title, relationship to you, and their preferred contact phone numbers. If they are based outside of New Zealand, please also provide an email address for that referee.

These referees will not be contacted unless you are the preferred candidate for the position.

Application form Section C – Authorisation

In completing the authorisation section of the form you are allowing the State Services Commissioner (the Commissioner), or his designated representative or agent, to undertake the following checks: We may approach, in confidence, not only the referees you have

named, but other people who have personal knowledge of you to gather information related to your suitability for this appointment.

Qualifications and credit checking is completed by an external agency on behalf of SSC, only for the preferred candidate.

Security checks by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service are required. These include vetting through the New Zealand Police and the Serious Fraud Office. The full check is completed only for the preferred candidate.

Application form Section D – Criminal convictions declaration

The information in this section is required to check whether you have any past criminal convictions or pending charges that might impact on your ability to be effective in the position and the information collected in this section relates to obtaining the necessary security clearance required by this chief executive position.

If you are the preferred candidate for the position we will confirm the details you have given through a criminal history check carried out by the Ministry of Justice. Only those directly involved in the recruitment, including our agents (and if necessary a legal advisor) will have access to this information prior to your appointment (if you are appointed, your declaration will be filed on your personal file).

The information provided in this section by unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed at the completion of the process.

If you fail to provide relevant information and the Commissioner subsequently discovers that you have a criminal conviction that could not be withheld under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 or a charge was pending at the time of appointment, you may be dismissed.

You may access this information and request its correction.

See ‘Key Legislation’ below for information on the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004.

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Application form Section E – Leadership Insight information

This section is to give SSC permission to use your Leadership Insight information (where this assessment has been previously completed) for the purposes of this recruitment process.

Application form Section F – Conflict of interest

A conflict of interest means a conflict between a public duty and private and/or personal interests. Personal interests may be financial or relate to family, friends or associates. Conflicts of interest may be actual, potential or perceived. A conflict of interest may happen at any stage during the recruitment process. You are responsible for advising SSC immediately if you believe there is a possible conflict of interest. Please note that this will not invalidate your application but will be taken into consideration.

Key legislation

State Sector Act 1988 The Deputy State Services Commissioner is a statutory role. Under section 12(1) of the State Sector Act 1988, the Deputy State Services Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General in Council on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Privacy Act 1993 The recruitment process is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act 1993. Personal information collected during this appointment process will be used solely for assessing your suitability for employment in this position. It will be held confidential to the Commissioner, the recruitment and assessment consultants, the interview panel and to SSC staff who will assist the Commissioner with this appointment process. Evaluative information will be held in confidence and you do not have right of access to it.

Your authority is needed to gather some of this information and an authorisation section is attached for this purpose. If you are appointed to this position the information will be retained. If you are unsuccessful all of your application documents will be destroyed, unless you request that they be returned.

Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004

[Extract from Ministry of Justice pamphlet ‘Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004’]

You must meet all conditions in section 7 of the Act (a summary is set out below) before your convictions can be withheld. The Act should be consulted for full information (see www.legislation.govt.nz – exceptions to the Clean Slate scheme are found in section 19 of the Act).

You must:

Have no convictions within the last seven years

Never have been sentenced to a custodial sentence e.g. imprisonment, corrective training, borstal

Never have been ordered by a Court following a criminal case to be detained in a hospital due to your mental condition instead of being sentenced

Not have been convicted of a “specified offence” e.g. sexually offending against children and young people or the mentally impaired

Have paid in full any fine, reparation, or costs ordered by the Court in a criminal case

Never have been indefinitely disqualified from driving under section 65

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of the Land Transport Act 1998 or equivalent provision

If you meet these requirements you could answer “No”.

The appointment process

Applications The application deadline for this position is 28 January 2019 at 5.00 pm.

Assessments The panel may invite you to undertake an assessment and this will be catered to the position. This step can provide the Commissioner and the interview panel with further information on your suitability for the position of Deputy State Services Commissioner, State Services Commission.

You will be given detailed feedback on your performance and if you are the successful candidate the results of the assessment will be used to develop a first year, professional development plan.

Interviews Interviews will take place in Wellington. Shortlisted candidates will be given more details on the interview panel and process at the time of arranging interviews.

Panel Interviews The Commissioner chairs the interview panel, which is made up of a number of invited people. Panellists may be chosen for a number of reasons, such as to provide expertise in a particular field. Panellists attend in their own right. The panel has an advisory role in assisting the Commissioner to determine the extent to which candidates meet the criteria set for the position.

Responsibility for making the decision on whom to recommend for appointment rests solely with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister forwards her recommendation for appointment to the Governor-General in Council, via Cabinet.

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Application form

Please complete your name below and each of Sections A to F of this form.

Refer to the ‘Guide for Applicants’ for further information on this form and therecruitment process.

Applicant name

Position applied for Deputy State Services Commissioner

Department State Services Commission

Gender (circle one) Male / Female / Gender Diverse / Prefer not to say

Date of Birth

Which ethnic group do you belong to? Circle the group or groups which apply to you

New Zealand European Tongan

Māori Chinese

Samoan Indian

Cook Islands Māori Prefer not to say

Other (please state)

How did you find out about this position?

Word of mouth

New Zealand Government Jobs (www.jobs.govt.nz)

State Services Commission’s website

SEEK

New Zealand Herald

The Dominion Post

Other (please specify)

Applicant’s Name:

Section A - Capability self-assessment

The Deputy State Services Commissioner, State Services Commission needs to be skilled in the capabilities identified in the position description. These capabilities have been outlined below. This capability self-assessment will be used to assist in the process of evaluating applicants.

Please provide a minimum of two examples for each capability area described below, detailing projects, tasks or occasions where you have demonstrated the capability.

These capability descriptors are based on the Leadership Success Profile. The full leadership success profile is available from the SSC website, please visit www.ssc.govt.nz/leadership-success-profile for more information.

Capability Descriptors

Leading strategically

Think, plan and act strategically; to engage others in the vision, and position teams, organisations and sectors to meet current and future needs.

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Leading with influence

Lead and communicate in a clear, persuasive, and impactful way; to convince others to embrace change and take action.

Leading at the political interface

Bridge the interface between Government and the Public Sector; to engage political representatives and shape and implement the Government's policy priorities.

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Enhancing organisational performance

Drive innovation and continuous improvement; to sustainably strengthen long-term organisational performance and improve outcomes for customers.

Resilient

Show composure, grit, and a sense of perspective when the going gets tough; to help others maintain optimism and focus.

Section B - Referee details

We are looking to create a 360 degree picture of your personal attributes, behaviours, and skills in relation to

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those detailed in the position description. To this end, please provide us with the details of referees at various levels who can make informed comment on your skills based on observations. These will be current and previous managers, peers, junior staff members, direct reports, or others.

Please ensure you provide each referee’s name, title, relationship to you, and preferred contact phone number. If they are based outside of New Zealand, please also provide an email address for that referee.

As part of the recruitment process your referee or any related persons not named by you may need to be contacted at any stage.

Referee details

Section C - Authorisation in terms of the Privacy Act 1993

Authority to approach other referees

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I authorise the State Services Commissioner, or his nominated representative, to approach persons other than the referees whose names I have supplied to gather information related to my suitability for appointment to the position of Deputy State Services Commissioner, State Services Commission.

Signature: …………………………………………………..

Name printed: …………………………………………………..

Date: …………………………………………………..

Authority to verify qualifications and undertake credit checking

I authorise the State Services Commissioner, or his nominated representative, to verify the qualifications listed in my curriculum vitae. I also authorise the State Services Commissioner, or his nominated representative or agent, to undertake a credit check.

Signature: …………………………………………………..

Name printed: …………………………………………………..

Date: …………………………………………………..

Authority for security checking and vetting of personal suitability

I give my authority to be security checked and vetted by the New Zealand Police, the Serious Fraud Office and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service in the event that I am considered suitable for appointment to the position of Deputy State Services Commissioner, State Services Commission.

Signature: …………………………………………………..

Name printed: …………………………………………………..

Date: …………………………………………………..

1. The appointee must be a New Zealand citizen. Are you a New Zealand citizen?

Are you a New Zealand resident?

Citizenship(s) held - please list all:

Yes / No

Yes / No

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2. The appointee will be subject to a New Zealand Government Top Secret Special security clearance. Please detail any areas of concern that may prevent you from gaining a Top Secret Special security clearance.

Section D - Criminal conviction declaration

Have you ever been convicted of any offence against the law, in New Zealand or any other country?

(Please note: This question is subject to the provisions of the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004. This Act gives eligible individuals the right in some circumstances to withhold information about their convictions. See the ‘Key Legislation’ section of the ‘Guide for Applicants’ for further information about this point.)

Yes No

Do you have any criminal charges pending, in New Zealand or any other country? Yes No

If the answer to either question is YES please provide full details, including the date and nature of the charges (and the expected hearing date if applicable):

(Please note: A false declaration about prior convictions and/or pending prosecutions will invalidate your application.)

Signature: ………………………………………………..………………… Date: ………………………………

Section E - Leadership Insight report

I give SSC permission to access my Leadership Insight report (where this assessment has been previously completed) for the purposes of this recruitment process.

Signature: ………………………………………………..………………… Date: ………………………………

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Section F – Conflict of interest disclosure

Are you aware of any perceived, potential or actual conflict of interest you may have in applying for this position?

If you have answered yes, please provide details below:

I agree to contact the State Services Commission immediately to disclose any perceived, potential or actual conflict of interest during the recruitment process

(Please note that this will not invalidate your application but will be taken into consideration)

Yes No

Signature: ………………………………………………..………………… Date: ………………………………

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