Job Satisfaction at Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

My role is a long-term strategic one. It requires me to collaborate with experts in their fields and help collate their insight into wider, narrative frames. It also means a LOT of emails.

Everyday is different. Challenging and rewarding work.

I work alongside external stakeholders to deliver parts of the NZ aid programme through different funding mechanisms which involves; relationship management, Activity management, financial responsibilities, monitoring etc.

I feel like I'm contributing to something meaningful

Contributing to policy advice and international representation

A lot of my day is typical office activities (meetings, reading, writing, reviewing, emails etc.). What makes my day interesting is the topics in those activities, which I often would not be engaged in elsewhere.

Great team, high empowerment and trust relationship with manager. Managing large sums of money with the NZ aid program and working with local staff to ensure risks are managed.

This changes based on your team.

Feel I will out grow the work prior to the 2 years spent in a rotation

The bulk of my work is receiving requests from post, the embassy or New Zealand agencies - once these come through I try to find the answer and this may require help from other divisions. Then there will be a lengthy back and forth about what content needs to be included and what I write originally tends to turn into a product written almost entirely by another party. There are also lots of meetings and personal development training courses.

My current role is exceptionally interesting despite not being in an area I would have pursued myself; I really appreciate the breadth of my responsibilities and the fact a lot of my work involves engaging with external partners (in a way that lets me take an active interest in their work).

Doing very mundane miscellaneous tasks - no deep thinking

Each day tends to be dictated by the most immediate problem and can be reactive in areas. Day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on area of work

Coordinating agencies' comments on APEC project proposals in my areas. Representing New Zealand at various APEC meetings. Note-taking in meetings and summarising details to a wider audience. Producing briefings for Ministers/Officials on key issues in my areas.