Principal Communications and Engagement

Auckland Council Group; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KiwiSaver

Hybrid working

Job summary

Auckland Council is seeking an experienced Principal Communications and Engagement professional to join the Community Engagement team within the Transport and Infrastructure directorate. You will lead communications and engagement to support the Takaanini Level Crossing Programme, building trusted relationships with communities, mana whenua, elected members and partners.

In this fixed-term role (up to 12 months) you will provide strategic guidance on engagement, manage reputational and

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience leading communications and engagement for complex infrastructure or city-shaping projects.
• Experience leading and supporting consultants on engagement.
• Strong ability to provide strategic advice and manage multiple stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for complex information.

Responsibilities

• Lead proactive communications and engagement strategies for complex transport and infrastructure projects.
• Provide trusted strategic advice to programme teams and senior leaders.
• Build and maintain relationships with communities, mana whenua, elected members and external stakeholders.
• Identify partnership opportunities and collaborate across the council group to deliver place-based engagement.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic communications

Public sector experience

Governance and political acumen

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field

IAP2 accreditation preferred

Job description

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Lead communications and engagement on a major Auckland infrastructure programme

Build trusted relationships with communities, stakeholders, partners and mana whenua

Fixed-term opportunity for up to 12 months with flexible hybrid working

Auckland Council has an opportunity for an experienced Principal Communications and Engagement professional to join our Community Engagement team within the Transport and Infrastructure directorate.

In this role you will lead communications and engagement to support the delivery of the Takaanini Level Crossing Programme, which is essential to grow rail services while keeping traffic moving and improving safety. You will bring your expertise to shape and deliver strategic engagement for the next phase of bridge design and future construction activity, ensuring community and stakeholder perspectives are understood and inform programme planning and decision-making.

A key priority will be maintaining and strengthening trusted relationships with elected members, mana whenua, key stakeholders and affected communities. As a trusted advisor, you will provide strategic advice to programme leaders and consultants on complex and sensitive issues, proactively identify, assess and manage communications and engagement risks, including reputational and stakeholder risks, and deliver consistent, high-quality communications and engagement.

You could expect to:

• Lead proactive communications and engagement strategies, plans and activities for complex transport and infrastructure projects

Provide trusted strategic advice to programme teams, senior leaders and the wider Community Engagement team

Build and maintain strong relationships with communities, mana whenua, elected members, partners and external stakeholders

Identify partnership opportunities and collaborate across the council group to deliver place ba sed community engagement approaches.

Navigate competing stakeholder priorities and politically sensitive issues with sound judgement and strong political acumen

Identify and manage emerging issues, reputational risks and opportunities

Champion the voice of customers, communities and stakeholders in programme planning and decision-making

Monitor and report on the effectiveness of communications and engagement activity

You will be an established communications and engagement professional with credibility and judgement to lead complex, public-facing work. You will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced political environment, working through ambiguity and advising stakeholders with differing priorities.

We will be looking for:

8-10 years experience Experience leading communications and engagement for complex infrastructure, transport or city-shaping projects .

Experience in lead ing and supporting consultants

Experience providing strategic advice and managing multiple stakeholders with competing priorities

Strong political acumen, sound judgement and the ability to identify and manage risk

Highly developed relationship-management skills and the ability to build trust with diverse communities and stakeholders

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex information clear and accessible

Resilience, adaptability and confidence working in complex and sensitive environments

Previous experience in the public sector, local government, transport or infrastructure would be advantageous. IAP2 accreditation is preferred.

Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving more than 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a significant city-shaping transport programme with long-term benefits for Auckland’s communities and public transport network. You will work alongside experienced programme, infrastructure and engagement professionals, with the opportunity to influence how communities and stakeholders participate in major project decisions.

This is a fixed-term opportunity for up to 12 months. The role supports hybrid working, with an expectation of approximately three days in the office.

If you are an experienced communications and engagement leader who enjoys navigating complexity, building trusted relationships and helping communities have a meaningful voice in major infrastructure projects, we would like to hear from you.

This is a fixed-term position for up to 12 months.

Our employer KiwiSaver contribution is additional to the base salary offered.

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application so we can assist you through the recruitment process.