Senior Advisor, Guidance - Fixed Term, Rules Update Programme

Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 99,000 - 121,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

10 days sick leave

Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to

Job summary

The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand is seeking a Senior Advisor – Guidance to join our team on an 18-month fixed-term basis. This role focuses on turning complex aviation policies and rules into practical, plain-language guidance for diverse audiences and stakeholders.

Working in a highly collaborative environment, you will lead guidance development, mentor others, and help ensure our guidance aligns with the Rules Project, Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments, and our safety and inclusion

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience in government or regulatory sectors.
• Proven experience developing guidance, manuals, technical documentation, or similar content.
• Strong writing, editing and information design skills, with a clear understanding of plain-language principles and accessibility standards.
• Ability to interpret and translate policy, operational, or technical information into user-friendly guidance.
• Experience collaborating with subject matter experts across policy, legal, and operational disciplines.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills within highly technical environments
• Strong analytical capability, attention to detail, and ability to synthesise complex material.
• Ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and content management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and creation of high quality guidance materials including Advisory Circulars and other materials.
• Translate complex policy, regulatory, and operational content into practical, plain-language documents.
• Assess rule and policy changes and determine guidance needs and priorities.
• Work cross-functionally with SMEs, communications specialists, legal advisors, and regulatory teams to ensure guidance is accurate, usable, and aligned with the overall Rules Project.
• Mentor and support other guidance advisors to strengthen organisation-wide capability.
• Uphold CAA’s commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, diversity and inclusion, and health, safety and wellbeing.

Skills

Technical writing

Plain language

Stakeholder engagement

Editing

Information design

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Content management

Education

Tertiary qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint

Content Management Systems

Job description

Job description:

Senior Advisor – Guidance

• 18 month Fixed-Term contract role
• Hybrid role – minimum 3 days in office
• Take complex aviation regulations and policies and make them understandable

At the Civil Aviation Authority, we don’t just keep New Zealand’s skies safe and secure, we help shape the future of aviation.

About the role

We are seeking a skilled Senior Advisor, Guidance to join our team on an 18 month fixed-term basis to support an programme of work to update the Civil Aviation Rules - an important step in keeping New Zealand’s aviation system safe, efficient, and fit for the future.

This is a highly collaborative role that works closely with policy advisors, operational experts, legal specialists, and external stakeholders across the aviation sector.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the development and creation of high quality guidance materials including Advisory Circulars and other materials
• Translate complex policy, regulatory, and operational content into practical, plain-language documents.
• Assess rule and policy changes and determine guidance needs and priorities.
• Work cross-functionally with SMEs, communications specialists, legal advisors, and regulatory teams to ensure guidance is accurate, usable, and aligned with the overall Rules Project.
• Mentor and support other guidance advisors to strengthen organisation-wide capability.
• Uphold CAA’s commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, diversity and inclusion, and health, safety and wellbeing.

The salary band for this role is $98,689 to $120,641. Starting salaries are based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

What You’ll Bring

You will be an experienced communicator and technical writer who excels at making complex information accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.

Skills & Experience

• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience working in a government or regulatory sectors
• Proven experience developing guidance, manuals, technical documentation, or similar content
• Strong writing, editing, and information design skills, with a clear understanding of plain-language principles and accessibility standards.
• Ability to interpret and translate policy, operational, or technical information into user-friendly guidance.
• Experience collaborating with subject matter experts across policy, legal, and operational disciplines.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills within highly technical environments
• Strong analytical capability, attention to detail, and ability to synthesise complex material.
• Ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and content management systems.

About us

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is New Zealand’s aviation safety and security regulator. We play a critical role in protecting the travelling public, supporting the aviation sector, and strengthening New Zealand’s international reputation.

Our vision is simple and powerful: A safe and secure aviation system – so people are safe, and feel safe when they fly.

Our values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration guide everything we do. We’re committed to diversity, inclusion, and creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to contribute.

Why Join Us?

• 5 weeks annual leave
• 10 days sick leave after 6-months of continuous employment
• Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Flu Vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Programme

Applications close: Sunday 13th September 2026