Communications Specialist

Airnewzealand; Auckland; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Air New Zealand is seeking an experienced Communications Specialist to protect and enhance the airline's reputation and keep employees and customers informed and engaged.

You'll lead external and internal communications, advising senior leaders, managing media enquiries, and translating complex information into clear, engaging messages across audiences. The role suits a calm, decisive communicator who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience across external and internal communications and public affairs.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear messages.
• Strong writing, editing and storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage media relations to enhance Air New Zealand's reputation.
• Provide communications advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver clear communications that support strategy and change.
• Support high‑impact corporate announcements and issue responses.
• Translate strategy into engaging messages for diverse audiences.
• Lead and coordinate communications projects from planning through delivery.

Skills

Corporate comms

Internal comms

Public relations

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Storytelling

Job description

Kia ora! At Air New Zealand, there's never a dull moment. We're one of New Zealand's most recognised brands, operating in a fast-moving, complex environment where great communication really matters.

We're looking for an experienced Communications Specialist to join our Communications team. This is an opportunity for a talented communications professional who loves the pace of a busy organisation, knows what makes a great story for our people and customers, and can confidently navigate everything from proactive media opportunities to complex reputational issues.

You'll need to be a self-starter, a sharp thinker and an exceptional communicator. Someone who can see the bigger picture, make good calls under pressure and get things done.

About the role

Working as part of our integrated Communications team, you'll play an important role in protecting and enhancing Air New Zealand's reputation, building confidence in our business, and keeping our people informed, connected and engaged.

This is a varied, hands-on role spanning external, internal and corporate communications. One day you could be working with senior leaders on a business announcement, the next managing a media issue, developing an engaging story about our people, or helping communicate change across our organisation.

You’ll be part of a team responsible for:

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with New Zealand media, proactively identifying opportunities to tell our story and confidently managing media enquiries, including through our media phone and during high-pressure situations.
• Providing clear, pragmatic and commercially sound communications advice to senior leaders and stakeholders across the business, helping them navigate complex and sometimes sensitive issues.
• Developing and delivering compelling communications that bring our strategy to life, engage our people and build understanding and confidence in where we’re heading.
• Supporting our response to operational disruptions, emerging issues and reputational challenges, often working at pace and with incomplete information.
• Finding and developing stories that matter, translating complex information into clear, engaging messages for a range of internal and external audiences.
• Building trusted relationships with stakeholders, anticipating communications needs and taking ownership of projects from planning through to delivery.

About you

We're looking for an experienced communications professional who can hit the ground running.

You’ll bring strong instincts, excellent judgement and the confidence to operate independently in a high-profile, fast-paced environment. You understand the realities of working in a business that’s always on, and you’re comfortable making decisions, managing competing priorities and delivering quality work under pressure.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• A strong background in corporate communications, internal communications, or public relations, ideally within a large, complex or high-profile organisation.
• Proven experience across external and internal communications, with the ability to adapt your approach for different audiences and business needs.
• Established relationships with New Zealand media and a strong understanding of the media landscape, news cycles and what makes a story.
• Experience managing reactive enquiries, sensitive issues and reputational challenges, including confidence handling a busy media phone.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to turn complex or technical information into clear, engaging and compelling communications.
• The confidence to provide sound advice to senior stakeholders, constructively challenge thinking and influence outcomes.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how communications can support business strategy and reputation.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, with the ability to anticipate issues, take initiative and deliver with minimal direction.

Just as importantly, you’ll be someone who rolls up their sleeves, brings energy and ideas to the table, and genuinely enjoys being part of a team.

You’ll be calm when things get busy, resilient when the pressure is on, and comfortable with the unpredictability that comes with working for an airline.

If you bring most of this experience, along with transferable skills and the drive to grow, we’d love to hear from you.

Ready for take-off?

This is an exciting time to be part of Air New Zealand as we deliver our Te Pae Hou | Our Future strategy and continue to strengthen our performance, customer experience and reputation.

You’ll be at the heart of some of the most interesting conversations happening across our business, working alongside talented colleagues and leaders on issues that matter to our people, our customers and New Zealand.

If you’re an experienced communications professional who thrives on variety, enjoys a challenge and wants to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you. Bring your curiosity, sound judgement and storytelling ex