Lead Adviser - Engagement

Tribe Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa is seeking a Lead Advisor – Engagement to shape how the organisation connects with the arts sector, government, and communities. The role focuses on building trust, strengthening relationships, and guiding strategic engagement and communications across key stakeholders.

Based in a New Zealand city with flexibility to base in Auckland or Wellington, the successful candidate will partner with senior leaders to translate insights into action, manage reputational

Qualifications

• Significant experience across engagement, communications, and external relations.
• Experience advising senior leaders in complex environments.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience managing reputational, political, or organisational risks.
• Understanding of government processes and the public sector environment.
• Knowledge of the arts, cultural, community, or related sectors.
• Familiarity with te ao Māori, tikanga Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Experience engaging effectively with Pacific and diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver strategic engagement and communications initiatives
• Build influential relationships across the arts, government, media, and community sectors
• Translate stakeholder insights into organisational action and decision‑making
• Lead responses to sensitive stakeholder and reputational challenges
• Support executive engagement, advocacy, and public positioning activity
• Strengthen engagement practice across the organisation

Skills

Engagement & comms

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Public sector knowledge

Job description

• Build trust through strategic engagement and communications
• Provide expert advice on reputation and relationships
• Permanent role with flexibility to be based in Auckland or Wellington

Lead Advisor – Engagement | Kaitohutohu Matua – Whakauru

• Build trust through strategic engagement and communications
• Provide expert advice on reputation and relationships
• Permanent role with flexibility to be based in Auckland or Wellington

Ko wai te Pakihi nei | About the Organisation

Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa is the national arts development agency, working alongside artists, ringatoi, practitioners and arts organisations across the motu. The organisation is moving into the next phase of a significant change programme, with a new operating model designed to strengthen leadership, connection, investment and impact across the arts and ngā toi.

Ko te āhua o te tūranga | About the Role

You’ll shape how CNZ connects with the arts sector, government, communities, and the public, building trust, strengthening relationships, and supporting the organisation’s strategic priorities.

Working closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will:

• Design and deliver strategic engagement and communications initiatives
• Build influential relationships across the arts, government, media, and community sectors
• Translate stakeholder insights into organisational action and decision‑making
• Lead responses to sensitive stakeholder and reputational challenges
• Support executive engagement, advocacy, and public positioning activity
• Strengthen engagement practice across the organisation

Mōu | About You

The Successful Candidate Will Bring

• Significant experience across engagement, communications, and external relations
• Experience advising senior leaders in complex environments
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Experience managing reputational, political, or organisational risks
• Understanding of government processes and the public sector environment
• Knowledge of the arts, cultural, community, or related sectors
• Familiarity with te ao Māori, tikanga Māori, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Experience engaging effectively with Pacific and diverse communities

Applications close midnight Sunday 15th November

To apply, you must be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or hold a valid visa with the right to work in Aotearoa.

We are the landing place where our people can come to rest upon, a safe space.

Aplacewhereexcellenceandcultureareencouraged and ultimately recognised.

Kia tau ai te mauri tū, te mauri ora ki te katoa. Nau mai, tau mai! Vitality and well-being for all. Welcome, settle here!