Senior Communications Adviser

Manawatū District Council; Aorangi; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks' annual leave

Job summary

Manawatū District Council in Feilding is seeking an experienced Senior Communications Adviser to join our Communications and Engagement team. You will provide strategic communications, marketing and engagement expertise across major Council projects to inform communities, build understanding and encourage participation.

This senior, hands-on role involves advising on complex issues, leading campaigns, and mentoring the team to embed communications early in projects.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic communications, public relations or marketing.
• Led communications and engagement programmes or campaigns.
• Ability to advise on complex, high-profile matters and manage risks.

Responsibilities

• Leading communications, marketing campaigns and engagement strategies for significant Council projects and initiatives.
• Providing strategic advice on complex, sensitive and high-profile matters.
• Using audience insights, storytelling and behaviour-change principles to increase awareness and participation.
• Identifying and managing communications, stakeholder and reputational risks.
• Building strong relationships with communities, stakeholders, media and partner organisations.
• Leading community engagement and consultation approaches.
• Supporting issues management, media responses and crisis communications.
• Mentoring and providing guidance to team members.

Skills

Strategic communications

Public relations

Marketing

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis communications

Job description

Shape the conversation. Connect Council with our community. Make an impact.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Communications Adviser to join our Communications and Engagement team at Manawatū District Council.

This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who enjoys getting involved in the big picture while still making things happen. You'll provide strategic communications, marketing and engagement expertise across significant Council projects, programmes and priorities helping us keep our communities informed, build understanding and trust, and encourage participation.

No two days will look quite the same. You could be developing an integrated communications campaign, advising on a complex or sensitive issue, hosting a community engagement, identifying reputational risks, working alongside a project team, or finding a creative new way to connect with our audiences.

What you'll be doing

You'll work closely with managers, project leads and subject matter experts across Council, providing trusted advice and ensuring communications and engagement are considered early in our projects and decision-making.

Your role will include:

• Leading communications, marketing campaigns and engagement strategies for significant Council projects and initiatives.
• Providing strategic advice on complex, sensitive and high-profile matters.
• Using audience insights, creative storytelling and behaviour-change principles to increase awareness and participation.
• Identifying and managing communications, stakeholder and reputational risks.
• Building strong relationships with our communities, stakeholders, media and partner organisations.
• Leading community engagement and consultation approaches.
• Supporting issues management, media responses and crisis communications.
• Mentoring and providing technical guidance to other members of the Communications and Engagement team.

About you

You'll be an experienced communications professional who can see both the strategic picture and what needs to happen on the ground. You'll be comfortable navigating complexity, building relationships with a wide range of people and providing clear, considered advice when the pressure is on.

We're looking for someone with 5-7+ years' experience in strategic communications, public relations or marketing, along with demonstrated experience leading communications and engagement programmes or campaigns.

You'll also bring strong judgement, curiosity and initiative. You'll be someone who looks ahead, spots opportunities and emerging issues, asks good questions and finds creative ways to tell stories and connect with different audiences.

Why join us?

At Manawatū District Council, we're proud of the communities we serve and the part we play in supporting a connected, vibrant and thriving Manawatū.

Based in Feilding, this role gives you the opportunity to work across a diverse range of projects and issues where your advice and expertise can have a genuine impact on how Council connects with its communities.

If you're an experienced communications professional who enjoys variety, thrives on building relationships and wants the opportunity to influence how an organisation communicates and engages, we'd love to hear from you.

Salary range for this position is $90k - $108k, with five weeks' annual leave - because work-life balance matters.

Applications close 25 October 2026