Senior People Advisor - Fixed term - Wellington

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 117,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Fire and Emergency New Zealand in Wellington is seeking a Senior People Advisor to provide high-quality HR and employment relations guidance to leaders at our National Headquarters. Reporting to the People Business Partner, you will assess current HR situations, deliver grounded guidance, and help implement practical solutions on complex ER issues.

This fixed-term role (ASAP to 30 June 2027) offers a salary range of $117,415 – $130,461 (pro-rata) and the chance to influence leadership thinking

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing high-quality HR advice.
• Relevant HR qualifications or equivalent experience.
• Experience in employment relations at a senior advisory level with problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of current New Zealand employment law and HR practices.
• Ability to coach and mentor managers to enhance people management capability.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply employment agreement clauses for people leaders.
• Address complex ER issues and provide timely, grounded advice.
• Participate on interview panels to hire leaders.
• Support delivery of national people-based initiatives.

Skills

HR advisory

Employment relations

Leadership coaching

Unions familiarity

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or equivalent

Job description

Join an organisation dedicated to helping our communitiesGain exposure to a wide range of ER mattersSalary range $117,415 - $130,461 (pro-rata) dependent on skills and experienceBring your demonstrated experience providing high-quality HR and ER advice to people leaders in our National Headquarters.Mo tenei turanga - about the roleReporting to the People Business Partner, the Senior People Advisor is responsible for evaluating the current state of various HR situations, delivering timely, grounded advice, and recommending solutions. Collaborating with leaders across in our Wellington based National Headquarters, you will promote a culture of people development and provide solutions to complex HR matters challenges and complex ER issues.No two days are the same. In this role you could find yourself:Supporting a manager to interpret and apply an employment agreement clauseWorking on a complex ER issueOn an interview panel to hire a new leaderSupporting the delivery of a national people-based initiativeCritical to this role will be your ability to hit the ground running. Ideally, you will also be familiar with working in a unionised environment and be equally comfortable working autonomously and mucking in with the team to solve a problem or share the workload.This is a fixed term opportunity from ASAP - 30 June 2027.Ko tau na i tenei turanga - What you'll bring to the role:We're looking for a confident and adaptable HR professional who can build trust and credibility to influence leadership thinking. You'll be comfortable managing complex ER cases, navigating ambiguity, and responding to evolving situations with a composed and professional approach. Strong organisational skills are essential, as you'll need to juggle competing priorities to ensure matters are progressing.To be successful in this role, we'd expect you will have:Demonstrated experience providing high-quality HR adviceHave relevant qualifications or equivalent experience working in HR.Proven experience in employment relations, with the capability to operate at a senior advisory level and with well-developed problem-solving skills.Good knowledge of current New Zealand employment law and HR practices and how this relates to the organisational context.The ability to coach and mentor managers to enhance overall capability in people management.The salary range for this role is $117,415 - $130,461 (pro-rata) dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.Ko wai matou - who are we?Fire and Emergency New Zealand is a Crown Entity responsible for reducing unwanted fires, responding to structural and vegetation fires and other emergencies including motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous substance related incidents, natural disasters, and supporting increased community resilience.Our vision is to build stronger communities and protect what matters most to the people within them. We are proud to be recognised as New Zealand's most trusted public sector agency. Our values reflect what our people believe is core to who we are and the organisation we aspire to be.We Do the Right Thing - Kia TikaWe Serve and Support - ManaakitangaWe Are Better Together - WhanaungatangaWe Strive to Improve - AuahatangaKo te tono mai - How to apply:Come join us - we are excited about the future of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and we'd love you to be part of it! We value diversity as a strength and welcome applicants that can help bring a difference to our organisation.If this sounds like you, apply now. To download a copy of our position description please visit our vacancy page on our FireJobs website.If you have any specific questions about this role, please email: [e-mail]. Please note, applications sent via email will not be accepted.We will be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.AI can be a helpful tool when preparing your application, but what matters most to us is you. Please ensure your CV, cover letter, and responses reflect your own skills, experiences, and perspective. We want to hear your real story - your passion, your personality, and what makes you unique. Don't let AI do all the talking - let it support you, not replace you.Applications close Tuesday 17 November 2026Please note: Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory for this role.