Publishing Assistant - Te Papa Press

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 54,000 - 66,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite Kindergarten

Subsidised parking

Café and store discounts

Free entry to paid exhibitions

Job summary

Te Papa Press, based at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, seeks a Publishing Assistant to support editorial, marketing and sales activities for its books. The role emphasizes administrative coordination and accuracy in title metadata and production workflows.

The successful candidate will have strong Microsoft Word/Excel skills, familiarity with Adobe InDesign, and a willingness to work in a values-driven team that respects tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Qualifications

• Previous administrative support or coordination experience.
• Calm, efficient, and well-organised with great attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with layout and design of marketing materials; InDesign is an advantage.
• Experience with tikanga Māori, te reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi valued.
• Strong written and verbal communication; excellent English grammar.
• Publishing qualification or experience in publishing is advantageous; suitable for early career.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to editorial, marketing, publicity and promotion for Te Papa Press books.
• Manage the Te Papa Press general inbox and physical post, title metadata and communications.
• Coordinate direct sales and stock movement of Te Papa Press titles.
• Raise and receipting purchase orders and match invoices in the finance system.
• Arrange gratis, review and advance copies and postage.
• Contribute to team and directorate operational delivery.

Skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Adobe InDesign

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Publishing qualification

Experience in publishing house

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Job description

Publishing Assistant Te Papa Press | Audience and Experience

We're looking for a new Publishing Assistant to support Te Papa's print publishing.

Purpose of the position

Te Papa Press is New Zealand's unique museum publisher, creating popular books of excellent quality about New Zealand's art, culture and natural world for museum visitors and readers everywhere.

The objective of TePapa Press is to create revenue, support and enhance the experience of visitors to Te Papa, and extend the Te Papa brand outside the building, both nationally and internationally.

The role

The Publishing Assistant supports Te Papa Press team by providing focussed administrative support required for the development, production, marketing and sales of Te Papa Press books.

The Publishing Assistant will: provide administrative support to editorial, marketing, publicity and promotional activities for Te Papa Press books; manage the TePapa Press general email inbox and physical post; manage and update title metadata; manage direct sales and stock movement of TePapa Press titles; support the Press and Finance teams by raising and receipting purchase orders and matching invoices for payment through the financial management system.

What success looks like

After your first year, colleagues will describe you as someone who can work confidently, effectively and collaboratively to help Te Papa Press run smoothly and ensures that the publishing list is well supported. You will have developed a deep understanding of the Press and its key stakeholders. You will work in a way that reflects manaakitanga (care and respect), builds whanaungatanga (strong relationships), and encourages auahatanga (continuous improvement).

Key responsibilities

• Provide administrative support services to the Te Papa Press team including editorial, coordination of marketing, publicity and promotion for Te Papa Press books, sending gratis and review copies of new titles, preparing, updating and distributing of a wide range of marketing material including awards submissions, monthly newsletters, author/staff sales, Te Papa Store promotional material, and preparing and regularly updating catalogues, TIs, sales previews, forward lists, list for Te Papa Foundation, launch invites, author Q&A, and event promotion/ adverts
• Manage social media posts, website updates and Kupenga (intranet) posts and content and regular newsletter
• Manage and update title metadata
• Co-ordinate the dispatch and receipt of formal correspondence via the Te Papa Press general inbox, including submissions and permission requests
• Manage direct sales and stock movement of Te Papa Press titles, including customer service and order fulfilment
• Arrange gratis, review and advance copies and postage
• Contribute to team/directorate operational delivery

We're looking for someone

• with previous administrative support and/or co-ordination experience.
• who is calm, efficient, and well-organised with great attention to detail.
• With proven experience of Microsoft software with particular strength in Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with layout and design of marketing and promotional material, with Adobe software, especially InDesign is also an advantage.
• A demonstrated respect for and valuing of cultural knowledge, skills, and experiences in the application of tikanga Māori, te reo Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our Mana Taonga principle.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including a sound grasp of English grammar, spelling and punctuation are essential.
• As isA publishing qualification and /or experience working in a publishing house is an advantage and this role would suit someone in the early stages of a career in publishing.

What we offer

• A supportive, values-driven team environment
• A workplace committed to Te Tiriti
• Comprehensive benefits including onsite Kindergarten, subsidised parking, café and store discounts, and free entry to paid exhibitions

Other Information

This is a part‑time position, 20 hours per week, based at Te Papa Tongarewa, Cable St, Wellington.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Pre‑employment checks will be undertaken.

The starting salary will be up to $60,216 per annum, prorated according to the hours worked, and based on skills, experience, and internal relativities.

Applications close: 10 September 2026.

For a confidential discussion, contact the Publisher of Te Papa Press [e-mail]