Public Affairs Manager

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life cover

Critical illness protection

Discounted insurances

Free will services

Savings schemes

Job summary

New Zealand Government, through the Defence Force, is seeking a Public Affairs Manager based in Wellington to provide strategic advice to senior leaders and shape how the organisation engages with people, stakeholders and the public. The role focuses on strategy, influence, and advisory work across a collaborative Public Affairs team.

You will coordinate activity across multiple workstreams, identify risks, and build trusted relationships with internal and external partners to support

Qualifications

• Experience in public affairs, communications or stakeholder engagement.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders on complex issues.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing communication or engagement strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong influencing skills and the ability to build trusted partnerships.
• Sound judgement and the ability to identify risks and opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic public affairs advice to senior leaders.
• Develop and deliver public affairs strategies and engagement plans.
• Identify and manage reputation risks and emerging issues.
• Support key organisational priorities, projects and initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate public affairs activity across multiple workstreams.
• Help leaders effectively communicate through change and uncertainty.
• Contribute to long-term reputation and stakeholder outcomes.

Skills

Public affairs

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Advising senior leaders

Communication skills

Relationship management

Influencing skills

Risk assessment

Job description

About the role

Mō te tūnga

As a Public Affairs Manager, you will be at the centre of some of New Zealand Defence Force's most important conversations, providing strategic advice to senior leaders and helping shape how the organisation engages with its people, stakeholders and the public.This is a unique opportunity to influence organisational outcomes, protect and enhance reputation, and support leaders operating in a complex and highly visible environment. Working as part of a professional and collaborative Public Affairs team, you'll focus on strategy, influence and advice while drawing on the expertise of communications and media specialists across the wider function.

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic public affairs advice to senior leaders.
• Develop and deliver public affairs strategies and engagement plans.
• Identify and manage reputation risks and emerging issues.
• Support key organisational priorities, projects and initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate public affairs activity across multiple workstreams.
• Help leaders effectively communicate through change and uncertainty.
• Contribute to long-term reputation and stakeholder outcomes.

This role is based in Wellington. You will also participate in a rostered after-hours duty system to support media enquiries and emerging issues, for which compensation is provided.

Skills and Experience

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako

We're looking for a strategic thinker who can provide trusted advice, build strong relationships, and confidently navigate complex and dynamic environments. You may currently be working in public affairs, communications, media, stakeholder engagement, corporate affairs, or a related advisory role and be looking for an opportunity to broaden your influence and operate at a more strategic level.

You will bring:

• Experience in public affairs, communications or stakeholder engagement.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders on complex issues.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing communication or engagement strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Strong influencing skills and the ability to build trusted partnerships.
• Sound judgement and the ability to identify risks and opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What's in it for you

Nōu te rourou

Your skills and dedication deserve recognition, and NZDF delivers with competitive pay matched to your experience. But that's just the beginning - safeguard your loved ones with a fully funded life cover of up to $300,000 and critical illness protection. Other benefits include discounted additional insurances, free will services and savings schemes for the Defence community. Get expert financial guidance and mortgage broker services. Find all our benefits and more on the Force 4 Families website.

• Fully funded life cover of up to $300,000.
• Critical illness protection.
• Discounted additional insurances.
• Free will services and savings schemes for the Defence community.
• Expert financial guidance and mortgage broker services.

NZDF champions diversity and inclusivity, valuing every member and fuelling their success. We embrace uniqueness, understanding that diverse teams drive creativity, innovation, and excellence. With an open door to all - irrespective of gender, ethnicity, ability, age, or family dynamics - NZDF offers a flexible, empowering work environment. Join us in shaping a brighter future, where everyone thrives.

Eligibility and Requirements

Applications close on Monday 21 September 2026.

Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug-screening test prior to any offer of employment being made.

To be eligible for the required level of government security clearance with the NZ Defence Force, you need to meet certain citizenship and residency criteria. Here's what you need to know: Higher Level Security ClearanceYou must be a New Zealand citizen or you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa. At minimum, you must hold New Zealand Permanent Residence or have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa, and you must be a citizen of and have lived in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America or New Zealand continuously for the last ten (10) years. You must have a ten (10) year background history that can be verified and assessed appropriately by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to determine if you are suitable for a security clearance at this level. If you do not meet the minimum criteria, unfortunately, your application will not be accepted. We do welcome your application at a time when you will meet the requirements.