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Senior Communications Adviser

Feilding, New Zealand

Reference: 6937937

Shape the conversation. Connect Council with our community. Make an impact.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Communications Adviser to join our Communications and Engagement team at Manawatū District Council.

This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who enjoys getting involved in the big picture while still making things happen. You'll provide strategic communications, marketing and engagement expertise across significant Council projects, programmes and priorities helping us keep our communities informed, build understanding and trust, and encourage participation.

No two days will look quite the same. You could be developing an integrated communications campaign, advising on a complex or sensitive issue, hosting a community engagement, identifying reputational risks, working alongside a project team, or finding a creative new way to connect with our audiences.

What you'll be doing

You'll work closely with managers, project leads and subject matter experts across Council, providing trusted advice and ensuring communications and engagement are considered early in our projects and decision-making.

Your role will include:

  • Leading communications, marketing campaigns and engagement strategies for significant Council projects and initiatives.
  • Providing strategic advice on complex, sensitive and high-profile matters.
  • Using audience insights, creative storytelling and behaviour-change principles to increase awareness and participation.
  • Identifying and managing communications, stakeholder and reputational risks.
  • Building strong relationships with our communities, stakeholders, media and partner organisations.
  • Leading community engagement and consultation approaches.
  • Supporting issues management, media responses and crisis communications.
  • Mentoring and providing technical guidance to other members of the Communications and Engagement team.

About you

You'll be an experienced communications professional who can see both the strategic picture and what needs to happen on the ground. You'll be comfortable navigating complexity, building relationships with a wide range of people and providing clear, considered advice when the pressure is on.

We're looking for someone with 5-7+ years' experience in strategic communications, public relations or marketing, along with demonstrated experience leading communications and engagement programmes or campaigns.

You'll also bring strong judgement, curiosity and initiative. You'll be someone who looks ahead, spots opportunities and emerging issues, asks good questions and finds creative ways to tell stories and connect with different audiences.

Why join us?

At Manawatū District Council, we're proud of the communities we serve and the part we play in supporting a connected, vibrant and thriving Manawatū.

Based in Feilding, this role gives you the opportunity to work across a diverse range of projects and issues where your advice and expertise can have a genuine impact on how Council connects with its communities.

If you're an experienced communications professional who enjoys variety, thrives on building relationships and wants the opportunity to influence how an organisation communicates and engages, we'd love to hear from you.

Salary range for this position is $90k - $108k, with five weeks' annual leave - because work-life balance matters.

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How to Apply

Applying for any of our jobs is simple. We like to get as much information as we can before making a decision on who we would like to interview, so please set aside 10-15 minutes of your time to tell us about yourself. The process involves three steps:

  1. Find the position you are interested in

Using our website’s search feature, search by keyword or enter a job code if you have seen the position advertised.  Alternatively, you can view all our current job listings on our Vacancies page.

  1. Answer the questionnaire

This is up to 20 questions, which are designed to provide us with a little more information about you.  Answering these questions allows us to process your application more efficiently.

  1. Upload your CV

If you have a CV, you can upload it and your cover letter into our system by following a couple of simple steps.  If you don’t have a CV, it is worth spending some time preparing one before starting the application process.  Please ensure your file is no larger than 2MB.

What happens next?

We will send you an email confirming we have received your application.  Once the recruitment closes, our interview panel will then review all the applications.  If you are successful in being short-listed for an interview then a member of our friendly People and Culture team will contact you with your interview details including if there is any practical exercise involved with your interview.  If your application is not successful in getting an interview then you will receive an email from us advising you of this.

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