Executive Assistant - Executive Director, Ag Emissions Centre

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

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Paid parental leave

Wellbeing and health benefits

Hybrid work options

Job summary

Ag Emissions Centre, part of AgResearch, is seeking an Executive Assistant to support the Executive Director, Governance Group and Leadership Team. The role requires discretion, foresight and the ability to manage priorities in a busy environment.

You will coordinate calendars, travel, meetings and minutes, and provide wide-ranging administrative support to senior leaders. Hybrid work options and ongoing development are offered.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Business Administration or relevant experience.
• Minimum of five years’ experience supporting senior leadership and governance.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and 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, accommodation, rooms, catering and video conferencing.
• Provide administrative support to the Ag Emissions Centre leadership team when required.

Skills

Discretion

Forward-thinking

Organisation

Communication

Time-management

Education

Diploma in Business Administration

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Teams

Diligent Boards

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.

Why you’ll love working here | Ngā hua o tēnei tūranga

• 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.
• Grow Your Career - Ongoing career development opportunities.
• Flexibility - Hybrid working options and flexible hours where appropriate.

What you will be doing | Ngā whāinga matua

• 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.

What you will bring | Ngā tino pūkenga me ngā wheako

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.

About us | Ko wai Mātou

The Ag Emissions Centre is New Zeland'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.

Further details about the Bioeconomy Science Institute can be found on our website , watch this Bioeconomy Science Institute short clip.

Applications close: Wednesday, 14 October 2026