Senior Advisor, People

Civil Aviation Authority Of New Zealand; Wellington; On-site; NZD 116,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Sick leave from day 1

KiwiSaver matching up to 4%

Vision assistance

Flu vaccinations

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

The Civil Aviation Authority Of New Zealand is seeking a Senior Advisor, People who will operate as a seasoned HR generalist across the employee lifecycle. You will partner with leaders, provide expert employment relations guidance, support organisational change and contribute to people initiatives to strengthen capability and performance.

Key responsibilities include building strong relationships with managers, delivering trusted ER and people-focused advice, collaborating with the People and

Qualifications

• Significant experience partnering with leaders to influence decision-making and deliver strategic and operational people outcomes.
• Strong working knowledge of employment relations and New Zealand employment legislation.
• Ability to provide clear, practical, and solutions-focused advice to managers and leaders.
• Proven experience leading or supporting complex ER matters, organisational change initiatives, and people projects.
• Strong influencing and communication skills, with the ability to build trust quickly.

Responsibilities

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with managers and provide coaching and support on people leadership and management.
• Deliver trusted advice across employment relations, performance, development, remuneration, change management, culture and engagement.
• Collaborate with the wider People and Capability team to deliver integrated, best-practice people solutions.
• Mentor and guide Advisors to grow capability.
• Lead and contribute to HR projects and initiatives across the employee lifecycle.

Skills

HR generalist

Employment relations

Change management

People leadership

Coaching

Job description

About the role

As Senior Advisor, People, you will be a seasoned HR generalist with broad experience across the employee lifecycle.

You will partner closely with leaders, provide expert employment relations advice, support organisational change, and contribute to people initiatives that strengthen organisational capability and performance.

Key responsibilities:

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with managers and provide coaching and support on people leadership and management.
• Deliver trusted advice across a wide range of People matters — including employment relations, performance, development, remuneration, change management, culture and engagement.
• Collaborate with the wider People and Capability team to deliver integrated, best-practice people solutions.
• Mentor and guide Advisors to grow capability
• Lead and contribute to HR projects and initiatives across the employee lifecycle

What You’ll Bring

We are looking for a confident, credible and experienced HR professional who combines strong technical knowledge with strong relationship and coaching skills. You will bring:

• Significant experience partnering with leaders within a complex organisation to influence decision-making and deliver strategic and operational people outcomes— including employment relations, performance, development, remuneration, change management, culture and engagement.
• Strong working knowledge of employment relations and New Zealand employment legislation.
• The ability to provide clear, practical, and solutions-focused advice to managers and leaders.
• Proven experience leading or supporting complex ER matters, organisational change initiatives, and people projects that deliver measurable organisational outcomes.
• Strong influencing and communication skills, with the ability to build trust quickly.

The salary range for this role is $115,536 to $141,751 per annum. Starting salaries are based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

For more information on the role please view the position description.

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, with an additional 2 days after five years of continuous service
• Sick leave entitlements from day 1 and Ten days Domestic leave annually
• Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Vision assistance
• Flu Vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Programme

Applications close: Monday, 26 October 2026 (11:59 pm)