Senior Media and External Communications Advisor | Auckland or Wellington

KiwiRail; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 100.000 - 140.000; Teilzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

4 days a week with flexi/hybrid

Competitive salary

KiwiRail benefits

Zusammenfassung

KiwiRail is seeking a Senior Media and External Communications Advisor to shape and protect our reputation across national media. Auckland or Wellington based, with a fixed-term parental leave cover and flexible hybrid work options.

You will lead strategic communications, coach spokespeople, manage briefing for senior leaders, and coordinate crisis responses while building strong journalist and stakeholder relationships.

Qualifikationen

• Experience across communications, media relations and public relations.
• Ability to develop and deliver communications strategies and plans.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to translate complex information into clear messages.
• Experience handling Official Information Act (OIA) requests.
• Strong media judgement in sensitive or high-profile situations.

Aufgaben

• Develop proactive and reactive communications plans that support KiwiRail’s strategy and protect our reputation.
• Identify compelling stories and content opportunities to bring KiwiRail’s work to life.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and media contacts.
• Prepare media releases, articles, and briefing material for external channels.
• Coach spokespeople for media interviews and briefings.
• Coordinate clear, timely responses during emergent issues or crisis situations.
• Lead communications planning for sensitive, high-profile matters.

Kenntnisse

Media relations

Public relations

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Crisis communications

Strategic thinking

Ausbildung

Tertiary qualification in journalism or communications

Jobbeschreibung

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Title: Senior Media and External Communications Advisor | Auckland or Wellington

Senior Media & External Communications Advisor | Auckland or Wellington

• Shape the stories that help build and protect KiwiRail’s reputation
• Auckland or Wellington based
• 12-month fixed term opportunity covering parental leave
• Senior communications role with real visibility, variety and impact
• Part time position working four days a week with flexi/hybrid options available

At KiwiRail, we’re shaping the future of Aotearoa by driving sustainable growth for our customers, communities and people. For more than 150 years, rail has connected communities, moved freight and passengers around the country, and showcased New Zealand’s incredible landscapes to the world.Our purpose, Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand, reflects our commitment to creating a more connected country through our people, networks and journeys.

If you thrive on a great story, can keep a cool head when the pressure is on, and know how to turn complex issues into clear, engaging communications, this could be the role for you. As our Senior Media & External Communications Advisor, you’ll be at the heart of KiwiRail’s external communications. You’ll help shape how our story is told, build and protect our corporate reputation, and provide trusted communications advice across a large, high-profile organisation. No two days are likely to look the same. One day you could be developing a proactive media story or content for our external channels, and the next you could be advising on an emerging issue, preparing a senior leader for a media interview, or helping coordinate communications during a fast-moving situation. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, communications and stakeholder teams, subject matter experts and media to ensure our external communications are clear, coordinated and impactful.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop proactive and reactive communications plans that support KiwiRail’s strategy and protect our reputation.
• Identify compelling stories and content opportunities that bring KiwiRail’s work and impact to life.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and key media contacts.
• Prepare media releases, articles, briefing material and engaging external content.
• Assist with Official information Act requests.
• Provide strategic communications advice to senior leaders, including around positioning, timing and reputational risk.
• Prepare and coach approved spokespeople for media interviews and briefings.
• Anticipate emerging issues and help coordinate clear, timely responses across the organisation.
• Lead communications planning for sensitive, complex and high-profile issues or crisis situations.
• Contribute to KiwiRail’s social media and digital channels, creating content that builds engagement and supports our corporate narrative.
• Work closely with stakeholders across KiwiRail to keep communications aligned, consistent and impactful.
• Share responsibility for the after-hours media phone and issues and crisis response as part of the team roster.

We’re looking for an experienced communications professional who knows how to balance strategy with delivery and isn’t fazed when priorities change quickly.

You’ll bring:

• Strong experience across communications, media relations and public relations.
• Experience developing and delivering communications strategies and plans.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to turn complex information into clear, compelling messages.
• Proven experience processing and managing Official Information Act (OIA) requests.
• Strong media judgement and confidence operating in sensitive or high-profile situations.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to spot both communications opportunities and emerging risks.
• Experience tailoring communications for different audiences and channels.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to think beyond the immediate issue and understand the broader reputational impact.
• A collaborative, adaptable and solution-focused approach.
• A tertiary qualification in journalism, communications or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.

Experience working within a public service or similarly complex, high-profile environment would be particularly valuable.

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you

We offer more than a job. We offer the opportunity to use your communications expertise in an organisation that plays an important role in New Zealand every day.

Some of the benefits of working at KiwiRail include:

• Competitive salary plus 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution
• Discounted Southern Cross health insurance for you and your whānau
• Access to the New Zealand Railways Staff Welfare Trust
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Staff travel benefits and exclusive discounts
• A collaborative and supportive team environment
• The opportunity to work on stories and issues with genuine national interest and impact

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to make a difference?

If you’re an experienced communications professional who loves a good story, enjoys operating at pace and knows how to navigate the moments when communications really matter, we’d love to hear from you.

Bring your judgement, creativity and communications expertise to KiwiRail and help us tell our story while protecting and strengthening a reputation that has been built over generations.

Applications close: Sunday 15th of November 2026