Senior Infrastructure Communications & Engagement Lead

Hamilton City Council; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

IAWAI - Flowing Waters (Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils’ water services CCO) is recruiting two Senior Communications and Engagement Advisors to support a $3 billion infrastructure programme delivering water services across Hamilton and Waikato.

These senior advisory roles require translating complex information into clear narratives, building trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders, and leading engagement across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience delivering communications and engagement for significant, complex infrastructure projects, ideally within a public sector, utility, or service delivery environment.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders including senior leaders, project teams, community groups, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic and operational communications capability, with experience developing and delivering integrated communications and engagement plans.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical, operational, or regulatory information into clear and engaging communications.
• Experience providing trusted communications and engagement advice to senior leaders and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills across a range of channels and audiences.
• Experience supporting issues, risk, and reputational communications in complex or high-profile environments.
• Experience working in complex, fast-paced environments and managing competing priorities.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and experience working alongside iwi and mana whenua partners.

Responsibilities

• Leading the development and delivery of strategic communications and engagement plans for major infrastructure projects and organisational initiatives.
• Providing trusted communications and engagement advice to senior leaders, project managers, and technical specialists.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders across local government, infrastructure delivery teams, community groups, customers, and partner organisations.
• Translating complex technical, operational, and project information into clear and accessible communications for a range of audiences.
• Developing high-quality content, messaging, narratives, briefings, and engagement materials across multiple channels.
• Supporting community and stakeholder engagement activities that help build understanding, trust, and confidence in IAWAI's work.
• Contributing to issues and reputational communications, including managing sensitive and high-profile matters.
• Working collaboratively across Communications, Engagement, Corporate, and Māori Partnership teams to ensure communications are aligned, culturally informed, and delivered to a high standard.
• Providing guidance, coaching, and quality assurance to support capability across the wider communications and engagement function.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic communications

Content development

Writing & storytelling

Issues & reputational comms

Team collaboration

Te Tiriti Waitangi awareness

Education

Tertiary qualification in communications

Job description

IAWAI - Flowing Waters (Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils’ water services CCO) is recruiting two Senior Communications and Engagement Advisors to support a $3 billion infrastructure programme delivering water services across Hamilton and Waikato.

These senior advisory roles require translating complex information into clear narratives, building trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders, and leading engagement across multiple projects.