Senior Stakeholder Engagement Strategist

Te Whatu Ora; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a Principal Advisor, Stakeholder Engagement to support the region’s leadership and government relations strategy. You will lead external engagement initiatives, craft high-quality communications, and advise senior leaders on opportunities and risks.

You will collaborate with regional and national teams to promote regional achievements, manage reputational risk, and respond to ministerial and external stakeholder inquiries with clarity and impact.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in stakeholder engagement, government relations, public relations, communications or a similar field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor complex messages to different audiences.
• Experience preparing senior-level and ministerial communications, including briefings, Aide Memoire, reports and talking points.
• Proven experience managing media enquiries, preparing media releases and responses.

Responsibilities

• Develop external engagement strategies aligned with regional and national priorities.
• Prepare and review high-quality communications, including media releases and OIA responses.
• Identify opportunities to showcase regional achievements and strengthen relationships with government agencies and stakeholders.
• Provide advice to senior regional leaders on external engagement opportunities and emerging issues.
• Assess reputational risks and advise on mitigation strategies to ensure a no-surprises approach.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Government relations

Public relations

Communications

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a Principal Advisor, Stakeholder Engagement to support the region’s leadership and government relations strategy. You will lead external engagement initiatives, craft high-quality communications, and advise senior leaders on opportunities and risks.

You will collaborate with regional and national teams to promote regional achievements, manage reputational risk, and respond to ministerial and external stakeholder inquiries with clarity and impact.