Principal Communications Advisor

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 118,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver

Wellbeing Benefits

Job summary

MBIE is seeking a Principal Communications Advisor in Wellington for a 6-month fixed-term or secondment. You will provide strategic direction, expert advice and technical leadership across internal and corporate communications, partnering with senior leaders to support organisational priorities and change.

You will lead complex programmes, champion strategic storytelling, and provide coaching to build communications capability across the organisation, ensuring clear, authentic messaging across

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level communications experience in a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated expertise in internal communications, employee engagement and organisational change.
• Outstanding writing, editing and strategic thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex communications programmes and champion strategic storytelling.
• Provide expert advice on media engagement and corporate communications.
• Coach and mentor staff to build communications capability across the organisation.

Skills

Senior communications leadership

Issues management

Internal communications

Employee engagement

Organisational change

Writing and editing

Trusted advisory to senior leaders

Coaching and mentoring

Strategic storytelling

Channel strategy & new tech

Clear messaging

Job description

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE Discover a career with purpose at MBIE 6 Month Fixed-term or SecondmentWellington CentralSalary range: $118,390 - $143,639 + KiwiSaver + Wellbeing Benefits

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

This is an exciting opportunity to join MBIE's Communications and Government Services branch as a Principal Communications Advisor in the Internal and Corporate Communications team. As an experienced communications leader, you will provide strategic direction, expert advice and technical leadership across a diverse portfolio of work. You will partner with senior leaders and stakeholders to develop communications approaches that support organisational priorities, strengthen employee engagement and enable successful organisational change. You will be able to provide expert advice on media engagement, helping MBIE to strategically navigate complex issues in a fast-changing operating environment. You will play a key role in shaping MBIE's internal communications environment, ensuring our channels, messaging and communication practices help create a connected, informed and engaged workforce. You'll lead complex communications programmes, champion strategic storytelling, and provide coaching and mentoring to build communications capability across the organisation. Working collaboratively with communications professionals across MBIE, you'll help drive a coordinated and consistent approach to communications while supporting leaders to communicate with clarity, authenticity and impact. This is an opportunity to influence organisational outcomes at a strategic level while helping shape the future of communications practice at MBIE

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

• Significant senior-level communications experience in a large and complex organisation.
• Issues and media management experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in internal communications, employee engagement and organisational change.
• Outstanding writing, editing and strategic thinking skills.
• A track record of providing trusted advice to senior leaders and executives.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing others.
• Strong understanding of communication channels, emerging technologies and best-practice communication approaches.
• The ability to translate complexity into clear, engaging and meaningful communications that drive understanding and action.

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders. We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable. People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours. Mahi Tahi - Better Together Māia- Bold and brave Pae Kahurangi - Build our Future Pono Me Te Tika - Own It Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity - Hīkina Whakatutuki - which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'. MBIE recognises the partnership founded under TeTiritio Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to TeTiritio Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities. E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Applications close on 20 September 2026