Communications Advisor - Fixed Term

Hawke's Bay District Council; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Hawke's Bay District Council invites applications for a Communications Advisor to join the Community and Partnerships team. This full-time fixed-term role through to June 2027 will develop engaging content, advise on campaigns and strengthen relationships with iwi, hapū, and the wider community.

You will work with managers and project teams to translate priorities into clear, accessible communications across multiple channels, supporting the Long Term Plan and organisational narratives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or equivalent in communications or related field.
• Experience in public relations or stakeholder engagement preferred.
• Ability to integrate Te Reo Māori appropriately into communications.

Responsibilities

• Develop engaging content across a variety of channels to support Council priorities.
• Provide practical communications advice and support media engagement.
• Collaborate with managers and project teams to bring initiatives to life.

Skills

Excellent writing skills

Relationship building

Stakeholder engagement

Te Reo Māori integration

Education

Tertiary qualification in Communications/PR/Journalism/Marketing

Job description

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Hawke's Bay District Council – Hawke's Bay

$75,650 - $89,000 a year

Full time, Contract

3d ago , from Hawke's Bay District Council

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

We are looking for a Communications Advisor to join the Community and Partnerships team. This is a full time, fixed term position through to June 2027.

This team is the Council’s integrated function for communications, engagement, marketing and creative, kaupapa Māori and Te Tiriti leadership. The team’s purpose is to strengthen Council’s relationships with tāngata whenua and the wider community, and the Communications Team plays a key role in ensuring communications are clear, accessible and engaging, helping to build trust, strengthen community connections, and enhance Council's reputation as a trusted organisation.

As the Communications Advisor, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of strategic priorities, Long Term Plan, and organisational activities. Working closely with managers, project teams, and communications colleagues, you will deliver high quality internal and external communications that help bring Council initiatives to life. You will develop engaging content across a variety of channels, provide practical communications advice, support media and stakeholder engagement activities, and contribute to campaigns that promote Council’s vision, values, services, and key organisational narratives.

This is a collaborative and fast paced role where you will build strong relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders, including community groups, local authorities, iwi and hapū.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

You will be a skilled communications professional who enjoys building relationships, telling compelling stories, and delivering high quality communications that engage and inform diverse audiences. You'll bring excellent writing skills, sound judgement, and a collaborative approach, along with the confidence to provide practical communications advice that supports organisational priorities.

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field
• At least three years' experience in communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement, or a related role.
• Demonstrated competency in Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga, with the ability to incorporate Te Reo Māori appropriately into communications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience creating content across multiple channels and audiences.

The salary range for this role is between $75,650 to $89,000 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

• Flexible working options to support work/life balance
• Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

Applications close Thursday, 3 September 2026, howeverwe will be shortlisting and interviewing appropriate candidates as applications are received.

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use.