Executive Assistant - Executive Director, Ag Emissions Centre

AgResearch; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recharge

Health & Wellbeing

Flexibility

Job summary

The Ag Emissions Centre is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support the Executive Director, Governance Group and Leadership Team. You will anticipate needs, manage priorities, draft minutes and coordinate meetings, travel and documents.

Working within the Bioeconomy Science Institute framework, you will join a collaborative team in a fast-paced environment with hybrid working options and a focus on delivering high-quality administrative support.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Business Administration or relevant experience.
• Minimum five years’ experience supporting senior leadership and governance.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams).
• Proficient in using Diligent Boards.

Responsibilities

• Proactively support the Executive Director and manage competing priorities.
• Coordinate calendars, email, travel and meetings.
• Draft meeting minutes and responses to correspondence.
• Manage documents and ensure information reaches the right people.
• Coordinate Governance Group meetings including travel, venues, catering and video conferencing.
• Provide administrative support to the leadership team as required.

Skills

Calendar management

Executive support

Communication

Education

Diploma in Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Diligent Boards

Teams

Job description

Be part of science that makes a difference

Are you an exceptional organiser who enjoys bringing order to a fast-paced environment? The Ag Emissions Centre is seeking a proactive, trusted and highly capable Executive Assistant to support our Executive Director, Governance Group and Leadership Team. This is a varied and influential role where your judgement, foresight and attention to detail will help our senior leaders stay focused on what matters most.

Working in close partnership with the Executive Director, you’ll anticipate needs, manage competing demands and help ensure commitments are delivered. You will provide Board secretariat-level coordination and support for the Governance Group and also provide administrative assistance to the wider Leadership Team when needed.

As a Bioeconomy Science Institute employee , you’ll receive excellent employee benefits and flexibility, such as;

• Recharge - Generous additional annual leave and paid parental leave.
• Health & Wellbeing - Excellent benefit choices in retirement savings, comprehensive wellbeing and health benefits with enhanced sick leave.
• Flexibility - Hybrid working options and flexible hours where appropriate.

What you will be doing | Ngā whāinga matua

In this role, you will:

• Proactively support the Executive Director and manage competing priorities
• Coordinate calendars, email correspondence, travel and meetings.
• Draft meeting minutes and responses to correspondence.
• Manage documents and ensure information reaches the right people.
• Coordinate all aspects of Governance Group meetings including travel and accommodation for Governance members and the Executive Director, meeting rooms, catering and video conferencing
• Provide administrative support to the Ag Emissions Centre leadership team when required.

To be successful in this role, you will be a confident, discreet and forward-thinking professional who understands how to operate effectively in a busy organisation. Comfortable working independently, you’ll use sound judgement, communicate clearly and know when to seek guidance. You’ll build strong working relationships, stay calm as priorities shift and take pride in delivering accurate, timely work.

Ideally, you will have:

• A Diploma in Business Administration or relevant experience.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in a similar position providing support to senior leadership and Governance.
• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office including Outlook, Work, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams.
• Proficient in the use of Diligent Boards.

The Ag Emissions Centre is New Zealand's centre of agricultural emissions research.

The Ag Emissions Centre shapes funds and manages a national research and development portfolio, builds research capability and infrastructure, and connects researchers, government, industry and international partners to support agricultural emissions reduction solutions.

The Ag Emissions Centre is hosted by the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao, and our people are employees of the Bioeconomy Science Institute. The Bioeconomy Science Institute is a Crown Research Institute, owned by the New Zealand Government and governed by an independent Board of Directors, formed through the merger of AgResearch, Plant & Food Research, Manaaki Whenua, and Scion. The Bioeconomy Science Institute’s purpose is to drive innovation and commercial outcomes in the bioeconomy, using research and technology to support enduring economic growth and resilience, a healthy environment and beneficial social outcomes for New Zealand.

Applications close: Wednesday, 14 October 2026