Liaison Manager PIF - until October 2027

Mfat; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 130,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rainbow Tick accreditation

Job summary

MFAT in Wellington is seeking a proven people leader to head the Liaison Officer workforce for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Week. You will oversee recruitment, onboarding, training and deployment of around 70 Liaison Officers, ensuring professional, culturally aware support for visiting leaders and delegations.

The role requires strong planning, stakeholder engagement and ability to coordinate large teams in a high-profile international setting; a Top Secret clearance and NZ citizenship are

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading teams and coordinating large-scale deployments.
• Exceptional organisational and project management skills.
• Experience designing and delivering training programmes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Understanding of protocol, customer service excellence and Pacific cultural awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, training, deployment and management of ~70 Liaison Officers.
• Develop workforce plans, procedures, guidance and training programmes.
• Deliver training on delegation support, service, protocol and cultural awareness.
• Provide leadership and issue resolution throughout event delivery.
• Build relationships with government agencies and event partners.

Skills

People leadership

Workforce planning

Training design

Stakeholder engagement

Diplomatic protocol awareness

Job description

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Liaison Manager PIF - until October 2027

Date: 21 Sept 2026

Location: Wellington, NZ, 6011

Description:

Liaison Manager PIF (Fixed-term until October 2027)

• Play a pivotal leadership role at one of the Pacific’s most significant international events
• Create a culture of excellence, service and Pacific hospitality
• Provide confident leadership while championing Pacific cultural values and professionalism.

Play a pivotal role in delivering one of New Zealand's most significant international events.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

As Liaison Manager, you will lead the planning, recruitment, training and management of the Liaison Officer workforce supporting the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Week. You will also support Taskforce engagement with partners and stakeholders who will be involved with the event, and the development of VIP programmes.

This high-impact role is responsible for ensuring visiting Pacific leaders, ministers, senior officials and delegations receive seamless, professional and culturally responsive support throughout the event. Leading a workforce of approximately 70 Liaison Officers, you will oversee workforce planning, training, deployment and event operations while ensuring the highest standards of diplomatic protocol and Pacific cultural awareness are maintained.

Working closely with a range of stakeholders across government and event delivery teams, you'll play a critical role in creating a successful experience for visiting delegations and contributing to the delivery of PIF Leaders Week.

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding, training, deployment and management of approximately 70 Liaison Officers.
• Develop workforce plans, operating procedures, guidance materials and training programmes.
• Deliver training focused on delegation support, customer service, protocol requirements and Pacific cultural awareness.
• Provide leadership, support and issue resolution throughout event delivery.
• Build strong relationships with government agencies, host organisations and event partners.
• Provide guidance on diplomatic protocol, cultural considerations and engagement practices.
• Support engagement with partners and stakeholders in the delivery of side events and VIP programmes.
• Contribute to wider planning, decision-making and successful delivery of PIF Leaders Week.

For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here .

The full salary range for this role is $129,965 to $152,900 total remuneration, inclusive of our 3% KiwiSaver employer contribution.

Who are we looking for? - Mā wai te mahi nei?

We're seeking an experienced people leader with strong operational planning skills and the ability to coordinate large, diverse workforces in a dynamic environment.

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• Proven experience building, leading teams and coordinating large-scale workforce deployments or complex programmes.
• Exceptional organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience designing and delivering training programmes and capability‑building initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• A demonstrated understanding of protocol, customer service excellence, Pacific cultural awareness, and working in high‑profile environments.
• Understanding of The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti, Te Reo Māori and Māori customs and protocols would be beneficial.

Why MFAT? - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Aorere?

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission. Check out our benefits page to find out more about why we love working here.

MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance NewZealand’s interests and pursue NewZealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for NewZealand of what is happening in the world.

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen.

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed.

Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Top Secret clearance . Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at midnight on Monday 5th October 2026.

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role. This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a Specialist role) based in central Wellington, NZ.

While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process.

If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.