Executive Communications Adviser

Auckland; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 87,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37.5 hour work week

Hybrid/remote working patterns

Salary range with progression

5 weeks annual leave

On-site childcare support

Wellbeing and development programs

Job summary

University of Auckland is seeking an exceptional writer and communications adviser to join its Communications team as Executive Communications Adviser. This is a full-time, permanent role working closely with the Vice-Chancellor and senior leaders to deliver high-quality, strategically aligned communications across Aotearoa and beyond.

The role emphasises executive messaging, high-stakes writing, and shaping communications that enhance reputation and engagement with diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering executive, corporate, strategic, or senior leadership communications in a large organisation.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills with adaptable style and tone for diverse audiences.
• Experience drafting speeches and other executive communications for senior leaders.
• Strong judgement and political awareness to navigate sensitive and high-risk issues.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver executive communications for the Vice-Chancellor and senior leadership.
• Draft speeches, messages, briefings, statements, talking points, and presentations.
• Shape messaging with senior leaders and align with strategic priorities.
• Support executive communications during issues, incidents, and crises.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders and subject matter experts.
• Balance planned work with emergent priorities and time-sensitive requests.

Skills

Executive communications

Speechwriting

Editing

Storytelling

Stakeholder management

Crisis communications

Te Ao Māori awareness

Job description

With more than 47,000 students and over 6,000 staff,WaipapaTaumataRau is New Zealand's leading university and a globally connected organisation dedicated to advancing understanding, transforminglivesand shaping futures.As part of our newly established Communications function,we'reboosting our strategic communications capabilitiesto help shape and enhance the reputation of the University in the eyes of its most important audiences.

We'relooking for an exceptionalwriter and communicatorto join the University of Auckland's Communications teamas Executive Communications Adviser. This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of the University's leadership environment, partnering closely with the Vice-Chancellor andothersenior leaders to deliver high-quality communications that support strategic priorities, elevatereputation, and engage audiences across Aotearoa and beyond.

This is a position perfect for anoutstanding writer who thrives incomplex, high-profile environments andis skilled atcrafting messages that make an impact.

Key areas of focus:

• Development and delivery of executive communications for the Vice-Chancellor and senior leadership team.
• Drafting speeches, messages, briefings, statements, talking points, presentations, and other high-profile communications.
• Working directly with senior leaders to shape messaging, tone, and communication approaches.
• Supporting executive communications during issues, incidents, and crisis situations.
• Helping ensure executive messaging is aligned with the University's strategic priorities, institutional narrative, and reputationobjectives.
• Building trusted relationships with senior leaders and subject matter experts across the University.
• Managing a dynamic workload that balances planned communications with emerging priorities and time-sensitive requests.

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity. The full salary range for this roleis$87,000- $118,000per annum

We have a structured salary framework with three zones for those developing into the role (developing), fully effective (target) and contributing beyond what is expected of the role (upper). Appointments are typically made within the target range of$93,201– $107,500per annum,depending on skills, experience, and internal equity. We welcome conversations about your expectations and what matters to you in your overall package. Any offer will be made within the advertised range and guided by fairness, consistency, andourcommitment to pay equity .

For more detailed information about the role and requirements, please refer to theposition description

You'llbe a highly capable communications professional with the confidence, judgement, and credibility to work alongside senior leaders in a complex environment.You'llbe an exceptional writer who can quickly understand context, distil complexity, and develop compelling communications that resonate with diverse audiences.

We'reparticularly interested in people who bring:

• Provenexperience delivering executive, corporate, strategic, or senior leadership communications within a large and complex organisation.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt style, tone, and messaging for differentstakeholders,audiencesand situations.
• Demonstrated experience drafting speeches, leadershipmessagesand other executive communications.
• Strong judgement and political awareness, with the ability to navigate sensitive, confidential, and high-risk issues with professionalism and discretion.
• Cultural competency and experience in shaping communications for diverse audiences, with a strong understanding of Te Ao Māori and TeTiritio Waitangi.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, subject matter experts, and key partners.

Our scale creates opportunities that few organisations can offer. From research and innovation to education,reputationand community engagement,you'llwork across a diverse range ofcommunications challenges while contributing to initiatives that have realand lastingimpact for staff, students, ourcommunitiesand the world.

Beyond the work itself,you'llbe joining a vibrant and inclusive community. From staff networks and cultural communities to social clubs, volunteering opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and campus events, there are countless ways to connect, contribute and build meaningful relationships across the University.

We also offer:

• A commitment to work/life balance with a 37.5 hour working week, flexiblehoursand hybrid/remote working patterns
• A competitiveremunerationpackage with up to 6.75% super, annual salary increase with performance-based multiplier
• Time to recharge and disconnect with 5 weeks' annual leave andadditionalleave buy/sell scheme,
• Support for parents and carers with subsidised on-site childcare (including Kōhanga Reo), gender-neutral parental leave up to 9 weeks’ full pay, on-siteparentingand feeding spaces
• A commitment to the wellbeing of our people with confidential access to a range of EAP services, including mental health counselling, financial guidance, neurodiversity coaching androngoāservices, a world-class on-site fitness centre, access to student specialists across our supervised training clinics, discounted health insurance.
• The opportunity to grow with access to an extensive programme of professional, leadership and cultural development, including digital capability coaching, specialised leadership development programmes, and Te Ao and Te Reo Māori learning programmes for staff
• The opportunity to build your career with one of New Zealand's most diverse and complex organisations

Reasonable accommodations- We are committed to building a more equitable and inclusive workforce and workplace, so we encourage applicants to reach out to discuss any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process, including alternative ways tosubmitapplications.

Whānau and support people- Should you be invited to an interview for this role, your whānau members and/or support people will be welcome to join you. The recruiter or hiring manager will provide more information about this as part of the interview arrangements.

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpu iMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz