Team Administrator

Team Administrator | Trade and Economic Group

Do you enjoy supporting teams to achieve and deliver outcomes? We’re seeking a highly motivated and capable Team Administrator to join our Trade and Economic Group, supporting the Trade Policy and Negotiation Division. This exciting opportunity is Wellington based and on a fixed term basis, from August 2026-May 2027.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga 

Our Team Administrators are proactive, organised and have great relationship skills - and as a result they become highly sought after for (non-foreign policy) secondments, projects and development opportunities within the Ministry - so this means we are regularly on the hunt for our next great administrator.

While many of our staff are based offshore, our onshore staff - especially our Team Administrators, are critical to ensuring our people are enabled to do the amazing work they do, wherever they are. 

The key purpose of this Team Administrator role is to provide a broad range of specialised and administrative services for the Division, Group and wider Ministry, providing support in business administration and corporate services such as financial administration, transfers administration, event coordination and logistics, travel management, and general administrative support.

These functions are essential to maintaining operational efficiency and enabling staff to focus on delivering key business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide end‑to‑end administrative support to enable smooth team and office operations
• Manage diaries, inboxes, correspondence, mail, reporting, and basic research
• Coordinate meetings, events, workshops, room setup, catering, and documentation
• Maintain schedules, rosters, databases, websites, intranet, and shared mailboxes
• Arrange domestic and international travel, visas, passports, and travel reporting
• Track travel plans and expenditure; support reconciliations and cost recovery
• Manage purchasing, invoices, approvals, budgets, variance reporting, and credit cards
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training liaison, and staff records maintenance
• Coordinate OIA, Parliamentary, Ministerial requests, policy reviews, and compliance responses
• Drive continuous improvement, manage small projects, and contribute to knowledge sharing and health & safety responsibilities.

For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here.

The salary range for this role is $60,103 to $76,798 total remuneration, inclusive of our 3.5% KiwiSaver employer contribution.  We expect to appoint around the midpoint of $66,781 depending on your level of experience.  

Who are we looking for? - Mā‎ wai te mahi nei? 

We have a large number of Team Administrators across the Ministry and they come from all walks of life with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences - and we love that!

So, when you put in your application please make sure you tell us about the unique value you can bring to the Ministry and highlight your great administration skills including things like your:

• Strong customer focus, with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Natural planning and organisation skills with the ability to self-manage and use your initiative
• Flexibility and ability to adapt quickly in a reactive environment
• Technical skills and confidence using the MS Office suite
• Understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial.  

Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere?

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission.  Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here.

MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging.  We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous.  By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance New Zealand’s interests and pursue New Zealand's values.  We provide advice to the Government on the implications for New Zealand of what is happening in the world.     

To Apply/Interested? - Me pēhea te tuku tono 

Apply today with your CV and cover letter.

For any questions, please email Sandy.McFadyen-Rew@mfat.govt.nz.

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen or Permanent Resident.   

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed. 

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool 

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process. 

Applications close at 11:59pm Thursday, 23 July 2026.   

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role.  This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a specialist role based in central Wellington, New Zealand)

While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process. 

If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.