NEMA - Senior Advisor, International Engagement

Civil Defence Group; Wellington; On-site; NZD 108,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Department leave

Wellbeing allowance

Vision allowances

Job summary

NEMA in Wellington is seeking a Senior Advisor, International Engagement to lead and deliver strategic international engagement activities across government and partner agencies. The role sits in the International Engagement Unit and coordinates NEMA's international relationships, supports deployments, and provides advisory services on international cooperation, disaster readiness, and reporting.

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Wellington.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of emergency management, disaster risk reduction, or humanitarian systems.
• Experience related to international assistance, humanitarian response, or international emergency cooperation.
• Politically savvy and aware of government foreign policy priorities, obligations, and protocols.
• Strong experience in engagement, building and maintaining trust and credibility in key relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex global trends, risks, and policy settings and translate them into clear, practical advice for senior leaders.
• A tertiary qualification or equivalent in emergency management or related discipline OR an equivalent body of knowledge and experience
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
• Knowledge of international disaster and emergency management frameworks (e.g. Sendai Framework, international humanitarian coordination mechanisms).
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills, with experience preparing high-quality strategic briefings and advice under pressure.
• Proven experience engaging with international or multilateral organisations, foreign government counterparts, or international forums, including representing organisational or national interests.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and experience working across diverse political, cultural, or institutional environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support and provide strategic advice on projects and programmes within the International Engagement team, working with others to deliver high quality outcomes.
• Work alongside partner agencies to deliver ongoing advice, strategic and technical advice where required against unit plan, focus on international assistance, and memorandums of cooperation.
• Provide advisory support towards engagement, briefings, and deployments for inter-agency, external collaboration and work programmes.

Skills

Emergency management

International cooperation

Policy awareness

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Education

Degree in emergency management

Job description

NEMA - Senior Advisor, International Engagement

Job Info

• Job Identification 1002837
• Job Category Other
• Posting Date 08/03/2026, 02:13 AM
• Apply Before 08/20/2026, 05:00 AM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 23 Kate Sheppard Place, Wellington, 6011, NZ

Job Description

Senior Advisor, International Engagement

Type:Permanent

Location:Wellington

Applications Close:5pm Thursday 20th August

This is your chance to join the International Engagement team of NEMA, who coordinate NEMA's international relationships and engagements.

This position sits in theInternational Engagement Unit / Whakawhitiwhiti Ao Whānui, which is responsible for coordinating NEMA's international relationships and engagements; promoting international cooperation and coordination; enhancing disaster readiness and response; and tracking and reporting on NEMA's international activities

The purpose of the Senior Advisor, International Engagement is to:

• Lead or support and provide strategic advice on projects and programmes within the International Engagement team, working with others to deliver high quality outcomes.
• Work alongside partner agencies to deliver ongoing advice, strategic and technical advice where required against unit plan, focus on international assistance, and memorandums of cooperation.
• Provide advisory support towards engagement, briefings, and deployments for inter-agency, external collaboration and work programmes.

As NEMA is an operational agency, there may be a requirement to respond to emergency activations in the event of a national emergency response. This may include potentially long hours and challenging working conditions, e.g. an emergency could occur at any time of the day or night and may require working shifts and/or working weekends. NEMA provides thorough training prior to you being required to assist in a response. NEMA will do all in its power to support staff in meeting their work and family responsibilities during an emergency. The welfare and wellbeing of our staff is of utmost importance.

Due to the nature of our role in Emergency Management, NEMA has a very dynamic work environment and as a small agency, staff are often required to pivot and change focus on their work at short notice. Attributes of adaptability, agility, resilience and curiosity are all required on a daily basis, in and out of times of emergency response.

• Strong understanding of emergency management, disaster risk reduction, or humanitarian systems, gained through policy, operational, or sector-based experience.
• Experience related to international assistance, humanitarian response, or international emergency cooperation.
• Politically savvy and aware of government foreign policy priorities, obligations, and protocols.
• Strong experience in engagement, building and maintaining trust and credibility in key relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex global trends, risks, and policy settings and translate them into clear, practical advice for senior leaders.
• A tertiary qualification or equivalent in emergency management or related discipline OR an equivalent body of knowledge and experience
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
• Knowledge of international disaster and emergency management frameworks (e.g. Sendai Framework, international humanitarian coordination mechanisms).
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills, with experience preparing high-quality strategic briefings and advice under pressure.
• Proven experience engaging with international or multilateral organisations, foreign government counterparts, or international forums, including representing organisational or national interests.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and experience working across diverse political, cultural, or institutional environments.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system as a whole, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery.

NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives.

NEMA values staff health, safety and wellbeing, and a positive work life balance is encouraged.

We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day to day work, values and practices.

Ta matou e tuku|What we offer

We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence is recognised and where staff are encouraged to develop their own talents and potential. We welcome diversity, in all its forms and we believe it is a strength.

The indicative BASE salary range for this role is $108,018 - $117,951.

NEMA offers other benefits such as Department leave, Wellbeing allowance, Vision allowances and more.

This position requires New Zealand citizenship or Permanent Residence, and you must satisfactorily complete pre-employment checks which will include, but are not limited to, criminal and credit checks.