Adviser / Senior Adviser: Policy and Operations

Wellington, New Zealand · 3–5 days per week · Fixed-term until 31 May 2027 (with the intention to extend)

About the role

Good Ancestors New Zealand is an independent, not-for-profit policy organisation working to reduce significant societal risks from emerging technologies, with a main focus on advanced AI. We're a small Wellington-based team led by two Executive Directors, both former public servants.

We're hiring one generalist to help the organisation run well. Depending on your experience, the role is shaped as:

• Policy and Operations Adviser: for an exceptional graduate or early-career generalist. You'll work across policy, research and operations with support and mentoring, and grow quickly into broader responsibility.
• Senior Policy and Operations Adviser: for a mid-career generalist with a background in operations, policy, research, executive support or the public service. You'll own much of how the organisation runs and lead projects independently.

What you'd do

• Take ownership of how the organisation runs day to day.
• Build, maintain, and improve organisational systems, records and processes.
• Plan and run meetings and events.
• Coordinate calendars, travel and event logistics, and prepare and proofread documents.
• Communications activities, including website updates.
• Contribute to policy research, briefings and analysis.
• Draft and shape reports, presentations, submissions and other external-facing materials.
• Support and, where appropriate, lead stakeholder engagement and correspondence.
• Contribute to organisational strategy and priorities.

The role is broad, and includes an operational core. Done well, that work frees the Executive Directors to focus on policy and external engagement and we regard this operational element as essential to the organisation's effectiveness.

Who we're looking for

We are particularly interested in candidates who are:

• Highly organised, detail-oriented and reliable.
• Proactive and able to anticipate what needs doing.
• Calm, adaptable and comfortable managing competing priorities.
• Sound in their judgement and able to work independently.
• Warm, collaborative and professional in their communication.
• Confident using Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and AI tools.

Experience in government policy, research, website design or communications would be useful but is not required. Interest in the organisation's mission and knowledge of AI policy is also preferred, but strong operational capability, reliability and good judgement matter more than subject-matter expertise.

If you are unsure whether you meet every criterion, or which version of the role fits you, we encourage you to apply anyway. We care more about capability, judgement and fit than about a particular CV.

What we offer

• Full-time-equivalent salary on par with comparable New Zealand public sector roles.
• Five weeks' annual leave and flexible working by agreement.
• A role you can genuinely shape, at a stage when our ways of working are still being built.
• A professional development budget, plus the option to use 10% of your time for professional and personal development.
• Mentoring from the Executive Directors, and connection to a growing international community working on AI policy and societal risk.

Location and structure

This role is Wellington-based, working in person alongside the Executive Directors (an initial period of remote work from elsewhere in New Zealand may be possible by agreement). We have real flexibility in how the role is structured, including the balance of days worked and the mix of responsibilities.

The role is fixed-term until 31 May 2027, with the intention to extend or make it permanent as funding allows.

How to apply

Send a CV and a short cover note explaining why the role interests you, and which form of the role you see yourself in, to Sign in to view email by 19 August 2026.

Full job description: https://www.goodancestors.org.nz/Adviser-Senior-Adviser-Policy-Operations.pdf