Public Programmes Specialist

The Big Idea; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional annual leave

Wellbeing programme

Staff social club

Life insurance

Museum membership

Discounted health insurance

Onsite parking discount

Rainbow tick accreditation

Job summary

Auckland Museum is seeking an experienced Public Programmes Specialist to develop, deliver and evaluate innovative public programmes that connect diverse audiences with exhibitions, taonga and stories across onsite, offsite and online experiences.

You will work across festivals, talks and performances, build partnerships with communities and artists, manage budgets and timelines, and help showcase Māori and Pacific perspectives within a values-driven, visitor-focused programme.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and delivering successful public programmes and events.
• Strong producorial expertise and relationship management.
• Experience engaging diverse communities.
• Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and working with Māori and Pacific communities.
• Confidence speaking Te Reo Māori or a Pacific language.
• Experience delivering end-to-end programmes, events or activations within the GLAM, arts, culture, heritage or community sectors.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build partnerships with artists, performers and community groups.
• Comprehensive cultural knowledge and a collaborative creative practice.
• Ability to manage multiple projects within budget and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Develop, deliver and evaluate public programmes across onsite, offsite and online experiences.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and networks to attract visitors and deepen engagement.
• Deliver major ticketed events, festivals, talks and performances.
• Ensure programmes uplift community voices and representation.
• Manage budgets and timelines to deliver high-quality outcomes.

Skills

Public programme development

Producorial expertise

Community engagement

Māori & Pacific engagement

Te Reo Māori / Pacific language

End-to-end project delivery

Writing & presentation

Partnership building

Budget & timelines management

Cultural competency

Job description

Arts education & training, Arts programming, artistic direction & curatorial, Production & crew

Auckland Museum is a much-loved culture and heritage organisation at the heart of Auckland's identity, committed to outstanding management of its world-class collections, developing and sharing engaging content through its galleries, exhibitions, events, educational programmes and the permanent and volunteer staff who tell the Museum's stories. We are Auckland's home of commemoration as well as the country’s oldest research institution and a major tourist destination.

We are seeking an experienced and creative Public Programmes Specialist to join our Public Programmes team within our Audience Engagement Directorate.

In this role, you will develop, deliver and evaluate innovative public programmes that connect diverse audiences with Auckland Museum's exhibitions, collections, taonga, stories and contemporary ideas. Working across a diverse portfolio of onsite, offsite and online experiences, you'll contribute to everything from major ticketed events and festivals to community-led activations, cultural celebrations, talks, performances and whānau programming.

Combining creative programme development with strong project delivery skills, you will build trusted relationships across community, cultural and professional networks, collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, and deliver engaging programmes that attract visitors and deepen audience engagement.

The Museum delivers approximately 65 public programmes and activations annually, engaging more than 50,000 people through cultural events, live performances, festival projects, talks, Kaupapa Māori programming, Pacific activations, and children and whānau-focused experiences. Guided by He Korahi Māori, Teu le Vā and the principles of manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga and mana whenua, our programmes celebrate the diverse communities of Tāmaki Makaurau.

A key focus of the role is contributing to our Pacific and Māori programming streams through the development of authentic public programmes that uplift community voices, increase cultural visibility and representation, and create meaningful audience experiences.

We're looking for someone with hands-on public programming and producorial experience, comprehensive cultural competency/knowledge, excellent communication skills, and a proven ability to deliver high-quality programmes on time and within budget. Flexibility to work across weekends, evenings and holidays is also a key requirement of this position.

• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering successful public programmes and events
• Strong producorial expertise and relationship management skills
• Experience working with and engaging diverse communities
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and working with Māori and Pacific communities
• Confidence speaking Te Reo Māori and or a Pacific Language
• Proven experience delivering end-to-end programmes, events or activations within the GLAM, arts, culture, heritage or community sectors
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills
• Experience building partnerships and collaborating with artists, performers, cultural practitioners, community groups and stakeholders
• Comprehensive cultural knowledge and a collaborative creative practice
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver successful outcomes within budget and timelines
• A diverse range of skills, perspectives and experiences to the Public Programmes team, making a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Museum and the audiences and communities we serve

• Availability to purchase additional annual leave
• An award-winning wellbeing programme including free membership with Boost app and My Everyday Wellbeing
• An active social club which is part of the fabric of Museum life
• Life insurance from your first day and discounted Health Insurance
• Free museum membership and other staff discounts
• Discounted onsite parking
• Accredited by Rainbow tick

Applications close on Monday, 28 September, 2026.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand to apply for this position.

Auckland Museum offers a rich and fulfilling work life where we embrace diversity and nurture our bicultural capability as demonstrated in our Teu le Va and He Korahi Māori strategies.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to be part of a significant New Zealand organisation committed to telling our national and Auckland stories, reflecting our unique place in the South Pacific.