Internal Communications Lead

Auckland; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 114,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid/remote working patterns

Up to 6.75% superannuation

5 weeks annual leave

Parental support & on-site childcare

Wellbeing and EAP services

Professional development and learning

Job summary

WaipapaTaumataRau is New Zealand’s leading university, seeking an Internal Communications Lead to shape how we engage with staff and students across Aotearoa. Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will lead a team of professionals to develop enterprise-wide strategies that build trust, connection, and belonging.

This full-time role offers a broad remit across executive engagement, channels strategy, measurement, and staff experience, with a salary framework and opportunities for

Qualifications

• Significant experience in internal communications within a large and complex organisation.
• Experience developing and implementing internal communications strategies for diverse audiences.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with credibility to influence at senior level.
• Proven cultural competency and understanding of Te Ao Māori principles.
• Passion for employee engagement, culture and people experience.
• Proven experience leading and developing teams.
• Awareness of digital technology advances and trends in internal communications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver enterprise-wide internal communications strategies and plans.
• Identify channels and media to maximise reach and effectiveness.
• Develop measurement frameworks and insights to evaluate communication effectiveness and engagement.
• Provide trusted advice to senior leaders and support the development of your team.

Skills

Internal communications

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Te Ao Māori principles

Employee engagement

Digital mindset

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’vecreated the role of Internal Communications Lead to helptransformthe way we engage with our staff, building connection and belonging.

We’relooking for an experienced and inspiring Internal Communications Lead to shape how we connect,engageand communicate with our staff and students across New Zealand’s leadingUniversity.This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact on organisational culture,engagementand employee experience by helping our people understand wherewe’reheading, why it matters, and the role they play in achieving our aspirations.

Reporting to the Director of Communications,you’llleada team of internal Communications professionals,providing strategicdirectionand fresh approaches tohow we communicate,engageand connect with our people.

This role offers exceptional breadth and visibility across one of New Zealand’s largest and most complex organisations.You’llpartner withthe Executive Leadership, Deans, Directors,senior leadersandotherstakeholders across faculties and service divisions to shape communication outcomes that impact thousands of staff and students.

Key areas of focus:

• Develop and deliver enterprise-wide internal communications strategies and plans, supporting organisational culture,engagementand employee experience
• Keep us ahead of the game byidentifyingand developingthe channels and media thatmaximise reachand effectiveness
• Help us understand and segment our audiences, develop measurement frameworks and insights to evaluate communication effectiveness and engagement
• Providetrusted advice to senior leadersand support the continuing professional development ofyour team

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity. The full salary range for this role is$114,400 – $164,800 per 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$122,501– $150,000per 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, andour commitment to pay equity .

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

This is a role for someone who understands that great internal communication is about more than sharing information,it’sabout building trust, creating connection, strengtheningcultureand helping people feel proud of where they work.

We’reparticularly interested in people who bring:

• Significant experiencein internal communications within a large and complex organisation
• Experience developing and implementinginternal communications strategiesfor diverse audiences
• Strong stakeholder engagement,relationship-buildingskillsand the credibilityto influenceat a senior level
• Proven cultural competency, and understandingofTe Ao Māori principles
• A passion for employee engagement, culture and people experience
• Proven experience leading and developing teams
• A finger on the pulse of digital technology advances and trends in internal communications

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 moreequitableand 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.

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