Team Lead, Communications & Engagement

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Life Insurance

Income protection

Critical illness insurance

Flexible working

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) in Auckland/Northland is seeking a Team Lead, Communications & Engagement to guide a high‑performing team, shape transport storytelling and support major programmes. You’ll remain hands‑on while leading workload planning, building capability and ensuring high‑quality outputs.

Working with diverse stakeholders across government, councils, communities and iwi, you’ll strengthen NZTA’s relationships and reputation, foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture,

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading communications and/or stakeholder engagement strategy and delivery.
• Proven people leadership capability, including coaching and mentoring.
• Experience managing competing priorities and complex workloads in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and provide trusted advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working across large-scale infrastructure, government, public sector or complex programme environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead workload planning and build team capability.
• Provide strategic communications and engagement advice across regional programmes and projects.
• Mentor and develop high-performing team members.
• Deliver high-quality outputs across key regional programmes and projects.
• Act as trusted advisor to senior leaders and project teams across the region.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, communities, councils, government agencies and iwi partners.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic communications

Mentoring

People management

Education

IAP2 certification

Tools

IAP2 certification

Job description

• Lead a high-performing team delivering communications and engagement outcomes that help shape the future of transport in NZ
• Unique team lead role
• Permanent opportunity based in Auckland / Northland

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

As Team Lead, Communications & Engagement, you’ll provide leadership, mentoring and guidance to a team of Communications & Engagement professionals while remaining hands‑on in delivering strategic communications and engagement advice across key regional programmes and projects. You’ll be responsible for leading workload planning, building team capability, ensuring high‑quality outputs, managing your own projects and acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and project teams across the region.

Working closely with stakeholders, communities, councils, government agencies and iwi partners, you’ll help strengthen NZTA’s relationships and reputation while ensuring engagement activities support successful project delivery. The role also plays a key part in fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high‑performing team culture. You are ideally operating at the Principal level and have had team leadership experience to hit the ground running in this role.

There may be some travel required in the role from time to time.

You will find out more about the role here: Position Description.

Ō Pūmanawa | What we’re looking for

Our ideal candidate will have some or all of the following (but don’t worry if you don’t tick every box):

• Significant experience leading communications and/or stakeholder engagement strategy and delivery.
• Proven people leadership capability, including coaching, mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience managing competing priorities and complex workloads in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and provide trusted advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working across large-scale infrastructure, government, public sector or complex programme environments.
• A tertiary qualification in communications, journalism or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• IAP2/Engagement Institute certification would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of, or a willingness to build understanding of, Te Ao Māori, Te Reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application within the public sector.

Mō mātou | About Us

The Engagement and Partnerships Group helps navigate that journey by building strong relationships, telling compelling stories and managing our reputation with stakeholders, partners and communities.

He aha te take e uru ai koe ki a mātou? | Why join us?

At NZTA, you’ll be part of an organisation where different backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences are celebrated. We want you to feel like you belong here, valued, respected and empowered to bring your whole self to work.

From five weeks annual leave through to Life, Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for our permanent employees, you’ll be well looked after here. Our benefits are designed to support our people and provide a happy, healthy and high-performing environment. We take a principle-based approach to flexibility and offer a wide range of development opportunities to help you grow your career.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

11 October 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.