1. technology and computing

Position Description
Position Details
Position Title:
Team Leader (Policy & Technology)
Reports to:
Assistant Commissioner (Legal & Policy)
Location:
Wellington
Date Issued:
November 2014
Background
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is an independent Crown entity established by
the Privacy Act 1993. The Privacy Commissioner reports to Parliament through the
Minister of Justice (or Associate).
The main purpose of the Privacy Act 1993 is to promote and protect individual privacy.
The Privacy Commissioner monitors, researches and reports on matters relating to
privacy, and has an educational and outreach role in promoting the understanding,
acceptance and protection of individual privacy. The Commissioner independently
investigates, conciliates and deals with cases involving an interference with the privacy of
an individual; scrutinises legislative and other proposals that may affect privacy; issues
codes of practice; and assesses and monitors authorised information matching and
information sharing programmes. The Commissioner is required to have due regard for
the protection of important human rights and social interests that might compete with
privacy, and to take account of international obligations accepted by New Zealand and
international developments in privacy protection.
The work of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is encapsulated in its mission
statement:
“To promote and protect individual privacy by encouraging and sustaining
a culture in New Zealand where personal information is protected and
respected wherever it exists.”
The Privacy Commissioner has offices in Wellington and Auckland.
Purpose and Role
The purpose of the position is to assist the Privacy Commissioner to achieve the
objectives of his office by:

providing timely and sound advice about the privacy implications of draft legislation
and proposed government or business policy;

researching and monitoring of developments in technology;

advising on proposed information matching programmes, and monitoring compliance
in active programmes in accordance with part 10 of the Privacy Act;

promoting and protecting individual privacy while supporting Better Public Services
initiatives, particularly Result areas 4, 9 and 10;

advising on proposed authorised information sharing agreements under part 9A of the
Privacy Act;

assisting with media enquiries, development of advice for the public or for agencies
(e.g. on the website), education, speeches, and other communications activities that
support the role of the Office.
To achieve these aims, the TL(P&T) leads, supervises and mentors the work of a team of
advisers working in policy, technology and data matching. It is the responsibility of the
TL(P&T) to ensure that the work of the team meets the standards of timeliness and
quality agreed with the AC(L&P).
The role extends to helping take leadership, as and when required, of inquiries initiated
by the Commissioner or other one-off/ad hoc special projects. TL(P&T) is also expected
to make staff resources available for cross-functional projects and other work led and
managed elsewhere in the office, as required.
The TL(P&T) is a key member of the Commissioner’s wider management team and
contributes to the development and implementation of the Commissioner’s strategic and
operational objectives.
The position reports to the Assistant Commissioner (Legal and Policy) [AC(L&P)]. It is
supported with expert legal/privacy advice from the AC(L&P) and the Assistant
Commissioner (Auckland) as required.
The position requires the exercise of sound judgement and strong analytical skills;
maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of privacy and data protection issues; the ability to
manage work across a range of functions and competing priorities; and the skill to
develop and maintain strong and productive working relationships within a team.
Teamwork
All members of the Commissioner’s staff are required to work co-operatively and
collaboratively together as a team. In addition, as the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
is a small one, there is not always a rigid demarcation of duties and, as with all other
staff, the Team Leader is expected to undertake such other duties and responsibilities as
the Commissioner may reasonably request from time to time.
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
2
Principal Accountabilities
Responsibility
Team Leadership
Key Result Areas
To plan, assign, co-ordinate, supervise and report on the work
of the policy, technology and information matching team, and
ensure that its work meets the standards of timeliness and
quality agreed with the AC(L&P).
To ensure that the work of the team is well founded on privacy
principles, is analytically rigorous and legally sound, and
incorporates expert privacy/legal advice from the AC(L&P)
and/or the Assistant Commissioner (Auckland), as required.
To assist the AC(L&P) with strategic and business planning for
the policy, technology and information matching/information
sharing functions of the Commissioner.
In consultation with the AC(L&P), to develop and implement
appropriate systems, processes and procedures to ensure the
effective and cost efficient delivery of the team’s services.
To ensure that any reports, papers, submissions or
correspondence drafted by the team meets the standards of
timeliness, accuracy, quality and presentation prescribed by
the office.
To monitor, mentor, assess and report on the performance
and training or development needs of individual team
members, and their progress towards agreed performance
standards and targets.
To ensure that team members comply with the Code of
Conduct, policies, practices and standards of the Office of the
Privacy Commissioner, including for timeliness and
attendance.
To assist the AC(L&P) with the recruitment and induction of
new staff, as required.
To ensure that team members maintain effective working
relationships within the team, and with internal and external
stakeholders; and that any representational work on behalf of
the office is undertaken to the standards of professionalism
prescribed by the Commissioner.
In consultation with the AC(L&P) and as may be required from
time to time, to assign team members to special projects or
specific items of policy-related or other work led and managed
elsewhere in the office, including by the Assistant
Commissioner (Auckland) – for example, for developing or
amending a Code of Practice, or for a Commissioner-initiated
inquiry.
Policy/Legislation
To provide the Privacy Commissioner and AC(L&P) with timely
and sound advice about the privacy implications of draft and
existing legislation, proposed or current government policy,
non-government proposals, and business or other
developments (e.g. smartcards and use of the internet)
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
3
Responsibility
Key Result Areas
To help promote understanding and awareness by public and
other agencies of privacy issues that should be taken into
account when drafting legislation or formulating policy –
through, for example, the compilation and issue of guidance
notes and precedent manuals, and meetings with agencies
and organisations.
Technology
To ensure that the team undertakes research into and
monitoring of developments in data processing and computer
technology for impacts on individual privacy
To promote co-operation with others concerned with the
privacy of the individual in relation to technology by, for
example:
 encouraging the use of privacy impact assessments and
reviewing privacy impact reports submitted to the office
 involvement in standards setting
Better Public
Services
While maintaining independence, to consider policy initiatives
that arise out of the Better Public Services environment
(particularly Result Areas 4, 9 and 10), and to provide sound
and practical advice about how to protect privacy while
improving services to the public
Information matching
and information
sharing
To ensure that proposals for new information matching
programmes are examined and reported on
To ensure that the team monitors and reports on the
compliance of:
 information matching agreements and Technical Standards
Reports; and
 information matching activity
To ensure that the Commissioner’s other statutory functions
relating to information matching are carried out.
To pro-actively identify areas of possible non-compliance,
raise issues with data matching compliance staff, AC(L&P)
and agencies.
To ensure that similar functions of assessment, monitoring and
reporting are performed in relation to other data matching (e.g.
under Social Welfare (Transitional Provisions) Act) and as
provided in codes of practice.
To ensure that suitable written materials are developed and
utilised to promote compliance with Part 10 and to inform the
public about information matching and its controls.
To advise on proposed authorised information sharing
agreements under part 9A of the Privacy Act
To assist the Commissioner to fulfil the statutory functions of
consultation, reporting and review in relation to authorised
information sharing agreements
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
4
Responsibility
Other Functions and
Activities
Key Result Areas
To assist in other activities of the office as directed by the
AC(L&P), including, but not limited to:
 complaints
 education and publicity
 public and agency enquiries
 media enquiries
 audit
in particular where these may have features relevant to the
policy, technology or information matching related work of the
office.
To lead or contribute to ad hoc or one-off projects undertaken
by the Commissioner, typically on a cross-functional basis, into
any privacy related issue or to improve any aspect of the
Commissioner’s operations.
To deliver speeches, education seminars/workshops and other
public presentations as may be required from time to time, and
assist with the development of education and public
information material, as required.
To contribute to and further the Commissioner’s international
collaboration with overseas privacy regulators and crossborder privacy-related authorities, and encourage and promote
the use by the team of international privacy resources.
To actively liaise with the Team Leaders (Investigations and
Dispute Resolution) in Wellington and Auckland
To develop and maintain productive and effective external
stakeholder relationships and networks, in New Zealand and
overseas, that may be relevant to the work of the Team
Leader and/or to promote and further the wider interests of the
Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
To maintain collegial and productive working relationships with
all of the Commissioner’s staff, noting particularly that the
office takes a cross-functional approach to its work and all staff
are expected to work co-operatively and collaboratively.
To develop and maintain and up-to-date knowledge of privacy
and data protection issues, and of any legislation which
defines or affects the accountabilities of the TL(P&T).
To alert the AC(L&P) or Privacy Commissioner in a timely
manner to any issue that might adversely impact on the
Commissioner’s office, or be of wider significance or concern.
To seek the prior approval of the AC(L&P) or Commissioner
before applying any new interpretation of the law and/or
departing from approved policy or practice.
To ensure that accurate and up-to-date records are created
and maintained.
To model high standards of personal integrity and conduct.
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
5
Delegations
Human
Resources
Financial
5 as at November 2014
Limits on
Authority
No statement is to be issued to the news media or any information
released to the general public without the prior approval of the
Privacy Commissioner.
Nil
Any significant departure from approved or accepted work practice
or procedure is first to be discussed and agreed with the Assistant
Commissioner (Legal & Policy) or General Manager.
There is no authority to enter into any ongoing contract that may in
any way be binding on the Privacy Commissioner, without the prior
approval of the Commissioner or the General Manager. The
booking of venues, travel or accommodation must be in accordance
with the policies, practices and procedures of the office.
Key Requirements
The Team Leader (Policy and Technology) is required to have:

excellent knowledge of the New Zealand legislative and central government decisionmaking processes

experience of working in public policy, at least at a senior advisor level or equivalent

excellent analytical skills

excellent written and oral communications skills

strong inter-personal and stakeholder relationship management skills, including the
ability to successfully engage with both large and small businesses in the private sector

a keen interest in the interactions between privacy, technology and people

the ability to lead, manage and mentor a small team.

relevant qualifications

common sense and sound judgment

an inquiring mind
Key Competencies
Team Leadership
Skills
Effectively co-ordinates, supervises and mentors staff.
Builds strong working relationships within the team, and
between the team and other stakeholders, both internal and
external.
Manages team resources effectively to ensure the delivery of
outputs to agreed standards of timeliness and quality.
Analytical Skills
Applies intellectual rigour to researching and analysing complex
issues systematically and comprehensively
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
6
Provides robust, well thought out conclusions supported by
relevant data
Responds quickly and intelligently to emerging developments
Exercises judgment and provides guidance with a good
understanding of the wider consequences of a decision
Communication
Skills
Communicates clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing,
and is an active listener
Delivers presentations effectively and can use a range of
presentation methods and media
Negotiates effectively, and can achieve co-operation and
agreement where there are conflicting objectives
Develops and maintains networks that may be used to obtain or
disseminate information, influence stakeholders and generally
enhance communication and understanding
Technology Skills
Competently uses equipment and software to produce own
work and (ideally) is familiar with Microsoft Office applications
Is proficient with specialist legal software tools that the Office
may use, such as statutes databases, and can efficiently
conduct Internet searches
Knowledge
Management
Records, classifies and communicates knowledge and
information to others, as required, including recording the right
information in the right place at the right time
Identifies resources required, ensures objectives are aligned
with the Office’s goals, monitors results, reviews targets
Maintains and enhances knowledge by actively keeping up-todate with developments
Participates actively in training and development opportunities
Professionalism
Displays highest standards of personal integrity, honesty and
conduct
Exercises discretion at all times, particularly in dealing with
sensitive or confidential material
Maintains secrecy of confidential material while, at the same
time, maintaining a culture of openness, responsiveness and
helpfulness towards the public
Works as a team member and demonstrates collegiality
through knowledge sharing and excellent work relationships
Displays a positive attitude to change, adapts readily, and
initiates changes as required
Develops and maintains constructive working relationships with
internal and external stakeholders
Maintains good work relationships both within the Office and
with external stakeholders
Use of language, demeanour and personal presentation all
reflect well on the office
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
7
PD –TL (Policy & Technology) (Wellington)
8