Executive Assistant

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 81,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Internal Affairs is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support the Deputy Chief Executive Partnerships and Commissions in a fast-paced environment, delivering high quality briefings, meeting materials and calendar management. You will build effective relationships across the Department and external stakeholders, anticipate priorities, coordinate meetings and events, and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Salary range: $81,000 - $100,000 per annum.

Qualifications

• Experience providing executive support to senior leaders, preferably in the public sector.
• Superior organisational skills with ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent relationship management and proactive issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Deputy Chief Executive's complex schedule and calendar.
• Coordinate key meetings and events and prepare briefing materials.
• Prepare high-quality documentation, agendas, minutes and action tracking.
• Anticipate priorities and risks to enable effective decision-making.

Skills

Executive support

Calendar management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

MS Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Us | Mō mɗēŋ

Join the Partnerships and Commissions | Te Aukaha branch and help deliver services that truly matter! From national institutions and commissions to community-driven initiatives like Hāpai Hapori Community Operations, Archives National Library, and Ministerial Services, we bring together innovation, strategy, and action to make a positive difference across Aotearoa.

The role | Te tōunga

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Partnerships and Commissions, this exciting opportunity will see you provide exceptional executive support in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive professional who can see the bigger picture, connect information quickly, exercise sound judgement, and ensure the Deputy Chief Executive is well informed, prepared, and supported to meet strategic and operational priorities.

You will be a confident communicator with the ability to build effective relationships across the Department, government agencies, and external stakeholders. You'll manage a complex and demanding schedule, coordinate key meetings and events, prepare high-quality documentation, and anticipate emerging priorities and risks to ensure the Deputy Chief Executive can operate effectively and efficiently.

What you’ll bring | Nōu te rourou

• Proven success providing Executive Assistant support to senior leaders, preferably within the public sector.
• Exceptional organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and negotiate deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong judgement, initiative, and the ability to anticipate needs and proactively resolve issues.
• Excellent relationship management skills and the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating planning activities, projects, events, and priority work programmes.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including preparing briefings, correspondence, meeting materials, agendas, minutes, and action tracking.
• A high degree of professionalism, discretion, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Genuine interest in supporting the strategic priorities and outcomes of the Department.

For you | Mōu

At the Department of Internal Affairs, we are committed to offering a collaborative and innovative culture where your perspective and ideas will be welcomed. We want our people to thrive within a culture of best practice, while being able to set and achieve goals and be encouraged to challenge the status quo.

To learn more about the diverse and important mahi we do at the Department and see why we’re a great place to work, visit our website: https://www.dia.govt.nz

Salary range: $81,000 - $100,000 per annum.

Applications close Friday 2nd October 2026.

For further information, please contact Jo Attewell at [e-mail].