Strategic Communications Lead

Auckland; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 114,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/remote working patterns

Salary framework with zones and equity

5 weeks annual leave and leave buy/sit

On-site childcare support

Wellbeing programs and EAP services

Job summary

WaipapaTaumataRau (University of Auckland) seeks a strategic communications leader to shape and enhance the university’s reputation using data-driven insights and audience-focused narratives. You will lead the Strategic Communications function, guiding institutional messaging, executive communications and reputation-building activities.

You will collaborate with the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and senior leaders to translate priorities into measurable strategies, manage sensitive communications,

Qualifications

• Experience advising senior executives and organisational leaders.
• Strong understanding of audience insight, segmentation and messaging strategy.
• Proven success developing organisational narratives and positioning frameworks.
• Experience managing issues, risk and crisis communications.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling and communication capability.
• Strong leadership experience with a track record of building high-performing teams.
• Cultural competency and experience shaping communications for diverse audiences, with Te Ao Māori knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Shape and evolve the University’s institutional narrative and strategic messaging.
• Lead communications approaches to strengthen reputation, trust and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide strategic communications leadership during issues, incidents and reputationally sensitive situations.
• Partner with senior leadership on complex communications matters.
• Support major institutional announcements and change programmes.

Skills

Audience insight

Executive advisory

Narrative development

Crisis communications

Storytelling

Leadership

Cultural competency

Influence and stakeholder relations

Tools

None

Job description

With more than 47,000 students and over 6,000 staff,WaipapaTaumataRau is New Zealand’s leading university and a globally connected organisation dedicated to advancing understanding, transforminglivesand shaping futures. As part of our newly established Communications function,we’vecreated the role of Strategic Communications Lead tohelpshape and enhance the reputation of the University in theeyes of itsmost importantaudiences.

We’re seeking an exceptional strategic communications leader to help shape and enhance the reputation of the Universityand build trust with our key audiences.

This is a pivotal leadership role for a communications professional who is adept in using data and insights to identify our important audiences, understand their perceptions, shape our narrative, and translate organisational priorities into compelling communication strategies that create measurable impact.

Reporting to the Director of Communications,you’lllead the Strategic Communications function, guiding the development of the University’s institutional narrative, strategic positioning, executive communications, and reputation-building activity.

You’llbe responsible forhelping answer some of the University’s most important communications questions:

• How do we want the University to beknown and understood?
• What do our audiences think about us today?
• What needs to change to achieve our strategic ambitions?

Working across a broad range of portfolios and stakeholders,you’llensure communication strategies are insight-led, audience-focused and aligned to long-term organisational outcomes.

Key areas of focus include:

• Shape and evolve the University’s institutional narrative and strategic messaging
• Useaudience data and insights todevelop communications strategiesthat strengthen reputation,trustand stakeholder engagement
• Lead communications approaches that support the University’s global standing and strategic priorities
• Build audience-led messaging frameworks and positioning approaches
• Provide strategic communications leadership during issues, incidents and reputationally sensitive situations
• Partner with the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and senior leadership team on complex communications matters
• Support major institutional announcements,initiativesand change programmes

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity. The full salary range for this role is$114,400 – $169,800 perannum.

We have a structured salary framework with three zones for those developing into the role (developing), fully effective (target) and contributing beyond what is expected of the role (upper). Appointments are typically made within the target range of$122,501– $155,000per annum,depending on skills, experience, and internal equity. We welcome conversations about your expectations and what matters to you in your overall package. Any offer will be made within the advertised range and guided by fairness, consistency, andour commitment to pay equity .

For more detailed information about the role and requirements, please refer to the position description

You are an accomplished communications leaderand experienced inoperating in complex, high-profile environments where reputation and stakeholder trust matter.

We’reparticularly interested in people who bring:

• Experience advising senior executives and organisational leaders
• Strong understanding of audience insight,segmentationand messaging strategy
• Proven success developing organisational narratives and positioning frameworks
• Experience managing issues,riskand crisis communications
• Exceptional writing,storytellingand communication capability
• Strong leadership experience witha track recordof building high-performing teams
• Cultural competency and experience in shaping communications for diverse audiences, with a strong understanding of Te Ao Māori and TeTiritio Waitangi.
• The ability to influence, challenge constructively and build trusted stakeholder relationships

Our scale creates opportunities that few organisations can offer. From research and innovation to education,reputationand community engagement,you’llwork across a diverse range of communications challenges while contributing to initiatives that have realand lastingimpact for staff, students, ourcommunitiesand the world.

Beyond the work itself,you’llbe joining a vibrant and inclusive community. From staff networks and cultural communities to social clubs, volunteering opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and campus events, there are countless ways to connect, contribute and build meaningful relationships across the University.

We also offer:

• A commitment to work/life balance with a 37.5 hour working week, flexiblehoursand hybrid/remote working patterns
• A competitiveremunerationpackage with up to 6.75% super, annual salary increase with performance-based multiplier
• Time to recharge and disconnect with 5 weeks’ annual leave andadditionalleave buy/sell scheme,
• Support for parents and carers with subsidised on-site childcare (including Kōhanga Reo), gender-neutral parental leave up to 9 weeks’ full pay, on-siteparentingand feeding spaces
• A commitment to the wellbeing of our people with confidential access to a range of EAP services, including mental health counselling, financial guidance, neurodiversity coaching androngoāservices, a world-class on-site fitness centre, access to student specialists across our supervised training clinics, discounted health insurance.
• The opportunity to grow with access to an extensive programme of professional, leadership and cultural development, including digital capability coaching, specialised leadership development programmes, andTeAo andTeReo Māori learning programmes for staff
• The opportunity to build your career with one of New Zealand’s most diverse and complex organisations

Reasonable accommodations- We are committed to building a moreequitableand inclusive workforce and workplace, so we encourage applicants to reach out to discuss any reasonableaccommodations throughout the recruitment process, including alternative ways tosubmitapplications.

Whānau and support people- Should you be invited to an interview for this role, your whānau members and/or support people will be welcome to join you. The recruiter or hiring manager will provide more information about this as part of the interview arrangements.

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz