Lead Practice Adviser - Theatre

Tribe Group; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa in Wellington or Auckland seeks a Lead Practice Adviser – Theatre to strengthen national and international arts investment and capability. You will lead with advisory groups, interface with artists and organisations, and ensure investments are insight-led and equitable.

The role requires deep sector experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to translate complex information into clear recommendations, manage strategic partnerships, and drive

Qualifications

• Significant experience within the arts, creative, cultural, or related sectors.
• Established relationships with artists, practitioners, and arts organisations.
• Experience leading projects, programmes, or sector development initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgement.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear recommendations.
• Financial literacy and performance analysis skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and adaptively.
• Knowledge of te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Ability to work effectively across diverse communities and cultural contexts.

Responsibilities

• Identify emerging opportunities and challenges across the sector
• Provide senior-level strategic advice that informs investment, development, and sector priorities
• Analyse sector trends, research, and performance to generate insights
• Deliver initiatives that strengthen capability, sustainability, and innovation
• Evaluate investment outcomes to support future decision-making
• Manage strategic partnerships, contracts, and collaborative projects

Skills

Arts sector experience

Stakeholder management

Project leadership

Analytical skills

Clear communications

Māori knowledge

Tools

Contract management

Analytics tools

Job description

Lead Practice Adviser – Theatre | Kaiārahi Kaitohutohu Whakaari

Permanent role with flexibility to be based in Wellington or Auckland.

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

This is a critical portfolio role within the Arts Investment Pou, which leads Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa’s national and international investment and capability and development work. This team is responsible for leading national and international arts development opportunities and pathways, including target markets, territories and opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and exchange. Working closely with fellow Lead Practice Advisers and colleagues across the organisation, and interfacing with artists, organisations and stakeholders across the sector, we ensure investment decisions are insight and sector-led, equitable and aligned to CNZ’s strategies for maximum impact.

As an individual with significant, in‑sector experience and specific knowledge of Theatre, you will play a key role in strengthening artistic practice, sector capability and wider sector national and international eco‑systems for the arts.

Working closely with advisory groups, artists, organisations, and stakeholders, you will:

• Identify emerging opportunities and challenges across the sector
• Provide senior‑level strategic advice that informs investment, development, and sector priorities
• Analyse sector trends, research, and performance to generate insights
• Deliver initiatives that strengthen capability, sustainability, and innovation
• Evaluate investment outcomes to support future decision‑making
• Manage strategic partnerships, contracts, and collaborative projects

Mōu | About You

The Successful Candidate Will Bring

• Significant experience within the arts, creative, cultural, or related sectors
• Established relationships with artists, practitioners, and arts organisations
• Experience leading projects, programmes, or sector development initiatives
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgement
• Ability to translate complex information into clear recommendations
• Financial literacy and performance analysis skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and adaptively
• Knowledge of te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Ability to work effectively across diverse communities and cultural contexts

Applications close midnight Sunday 8th November 2026

To apply, you must be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or hold a valid visa with the right to work in Aotearoa. We’ll be reviewing candidates as they come through, so we encourage early applications.

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

Aplace where excellence and culture are encouraged 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!