Senior Communications Advisor |

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Wellington; On-site; NZD 101,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

MBIE is seeking a Senior Communications Advisor based in Wellington to provide strategic internal communications support across a high-profile portfolio. You will partner with senior leaders to develop and deliver internal communications strategies that help people understand MBIE's priorities, navigate change and feel connected to our purpose.

You will shape leadership communications, drive employee engagement initiatives and contribute to organisational change programmes, translating complex

Qualifications

• At least 5 years' experience in strategic communications, public relations, media, stakeholder engagement or a related field.
• Strong risk radar and the ability to identify emerging issues and provide sound communications advice.
• Proven experience managing media responses, issues management and reputation risks in a complex environment.
• Sound understanding of the broader political, government and public sector environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex information into clear, strategic communications plans and messaging.
• Experience advising, influencing and partnering with senior leaders.
• Highly developed relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong communication skills, including writing, editing and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to contribute to a supportive team culture.
• A tertiary qualification... or equivalent experience.
• The legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic internal communications advice and support across a diverse and high-profile portfolio.
• Develop and deliver internal communications strategies that help staff understand MBIE's priorities, navigate change and feel connected to our purpose.
• Support leadership communications, employee engagement initiatives and organisational change programmes.
• Create compelling narratives and translate complex information into clear, engaging content for internal channels.
• Contribute to building communication capability across MBIE and improve internal engagement approaches.

Skills

Strategic communications

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Public sector experience

Advising senior leaders

Relationship management

Clear written and verbal communication

Education

Tertiary qualification in communications, public relations, journalism or related discipline

Job description

• Shape how MBIE communicates through change
• Bring strategy, storytelling and engagement together

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

Salary range: $101,00 - $121,000

Wellington based

Permanent Role

• Be a trusted advisor to leaders
• Help connect and engage our people
• Shape how MBIE communicates through change
• Bring strategy, storytelling and engagement together

Join a high-performing communications team and help shape the way MBIE connects, informs and engages its people. If you're an experienced communications professional with strong strategic thinking, excellent relationship-building skills and a passion for employee engagement, we'd love to hear from you.

As a Senior Communications Advisor, you will provide strategic internal communications advice and support across a diverse and high-profile portfolio. Partnering closely with senior leaders, business groups and subject matter experts, you'll develop and deliver internal communications strategies that help our people understand MBIE's priorities, navigate change and feel connected to our purpose.

You'll play a key role in supporting leadership communications, employee engagement initiatives and organisational change programmes. You'll create compelling narratives, translate complex information into clear and engaging content, and help ensure communications are aligned, audience-focused and effective.

Working as part of a collaborative team, you'll contribute to building communication capability across MBIE while supporting the continuous improvement of our internal channels and engagement approaches.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Develop and deliver internal communications, employee engagement and change communication strategies and plans.
• Create compelling content and strategic narratives for a range of internal channels and audiences.
• Partner with leaders to strengthen communication capability and improve staff engagement.
• Translate complex information into clear, engaging and audience-focused communications.
• Use insights, feedback and evaluation to improve communication outcomes and employee engagement.
• Demonstrate sound judgement, political awareness and the ability to manage competing priorities in a complex environment.

Ideally, you'll have experience delivering internal communications within a large, complex organisation and supporting leaders through organisational change and transformation initiatives.

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana -

Skills And Experience Required

• At least 5 years' experience in strategic communications, public relations, media, stakeholder engagement or a related field.
• A strong risk radar and the ability to identify emerging issues and provide sound communications advice.
• Proven experience managing media responses, issues management and reputation risks in a complex environment.
• Sound understanding of the broader political, government and public sector environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex information into clear, strategic communications plans and messaging.
• Experience advising, influencing and partnering with senior leaders.
• Highly developed relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong communication skills, including writing, editing and verbal communication.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to contribute to a supportive team culture.
• A tertiary qualification in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• The legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Māia – Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future
• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā‑ohanga, ā‑pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapa kua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Applications close on 13 September 2026