Director Communications and Media

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Wellington is seeking a senior Communications and Media Leader to shape strategy, media response and stakeholder engagement in a high-profile public sector environment.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you will lead a team of around 26 across communications, media, content and channels, and provide trusted advice to senior leaders while guiding ministerial and government-facing communications.

Qualifications

• Significant senior communications and media leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of machinery of government and ministerial environments.
• Experience in organisations operating under public scrutiny or significant stakeholder interest.
• Proven track record leading high-performing communications teams.
• Expertise across strategic communications, media management and reputation management.
• Clear, pragmatic advisory skills for complex situations.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive presence.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and engagement with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Leading the organisation's communications and media strategy
• Providing trusted advice to senior leaders and the Chief Executive
• Supporting ministerial and government facing communications
• Strengthening internal communications and employee engagement
• Driving digital communications and channels to reach audiences directly and creatively
• Building capability, accountability and consistency across the communications function
• Strengthening stakeholder engagement across government and community partners
• Ensuring communications activity supports organisational priorities and delivers measurable impact

Skills

Strategic leadership

Crisis communications

Media management

Stakeholder management

Reputation management

Executive presence

Public sector experience

Digital communications

Te Tiriti o Waitangi awareness

Job description

• Shape how we communicate on matters affecting tamariki and rangatahi
• Deliver clear, consistent and impactful communications in a complex environment
• Drive media engagement, issues management and ministerial support

Lead communications and media for Oranga Tamariki, shaping strategy, media response and engagement in a high-profile public sector environment.

About Oranga Tamariki

Oranga Tamariki works to ensure tamariki in Aotearoa are supported to flourish within loving whānau and communities. Guided by the belief that every child can thrive when surrounded by the right people and a safe, nurturing environment, more than 4,500 kaimahi work across the country to improve outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

The Communications and Media function plays a critical role in helping the organisation tell its story, respond to scrutiny, engage effectively with stakeholders, and connect strategy with frontline delivery. This is an opportunity to lead that function at a pivotal time.

About the Role

This is one of the most senior communications roles in the New Zealand public sector. You'll shape strategy, media and stakeholder engagement for an agency operating at the centre of national scrutiny. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you'll lead a team of around 26 across communications, media, content and channels – including web, social media, video and design - and be closely involved in the organisation’s most sensitive issues, including ministerial and government-facing communications. This is a hands on, close to the action role.

This is a role that balances long term strategy with day-to-day responsiveness. One week you might be shaping an organisational communications strategy, strengthening internal engagement, or helping leaders think differently about connecting with frontline kaimahi. The next, you could be responding to urgent media issues, preparing material for ministerial engagement, or navigating sensitive public interest matters.

Key areas of focus include:

• Leading the organisation's communications and media strategy
• Providing trusted advice to senior leaders and the Chief Executive
• Supporting ministerial and government facing communications
• Strengthening internal communications and employee engagement
• Driving digital communications and channels, including website, social media, content and design, to reach audiences more directly and creatively
• Building capability, accountability and consistency across the communications function
• Strengthening stakeholder engagement across government and community partners
• Ensuring communications activity supports organisational priorities and delivers measurable impact

This is a highly visible role with significant influence across the organisation and regular engagement with ministers, government agencies, media and external stakeholders.

About You

You are an experienced communications leader who combines strategic judgment with genuine hands-on credibility. You understand the realities of operating in a high-profile environment and can move comfortably between executive advisory work, media engagement, crisis communications and organisational leadership.

What you'll bring:

• Significant senior communications and media leadership experience
• Strong understanding of machinery of government and ministerial environments
• Experience working in organisations operating under public scrutiny or significant stakeholder interest
• A track record leading high-performing communications teams
• Expertise across strategic communications, media management and reputation management
• Confidence leading digital communications and channels, with exposure to web, social media, content and design, having driven growth in direct audience engagement
• The ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice in complex situations
• Strong stakeholder management skills and executive presence
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and experience engaging with diverse communities across Aotearoa

Most importantly, you're someone who can combine leadership with delivery. You'll be comfortable setting direction, making decisions, supporting your team, and stepping into the detail when required.

Why This Role?

Opportunities to lead communications at this level are rare. This role offers the chance to shape the voice, reputation and engagement approach of one of New Zealand's most important public sector organisations. You'll work alongside experienced leaders, influence issues of national significance, and lead a capable team with the mandate to make a genuine impact.

This is a Wellington-based position.

Please note: You must be eligible to work in Aotearoa and able to pass a Ministry of Justice criminal history check.