Senior Communications Adviser at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Join a collaborative team where your ideas and expertise will make a real impact.
• Use your creativity and communications expertise to influence outcomes that matter.
• Fixed Term/Secondment opportunity until June 2027.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Senior Communications Adviser in our Internal and Strategic Communications Team, you'll help bring priorities, initiatives, and strategic direction to life through clear, engaging, and effective communications. Working closely with leaders and teams across the organisation, you'll provide trusted advice, develop communication plans, create compelling content, and deliver communications that inform, connect, and inspire our people.

This is a varied role that combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You'll support key projects, change initiatives, and events, manage digital communication channels, develop engaging resources, and identify opportunities to strengthen organisational communication and engagement. As a communications champion, you'll promote best practice, build strong stakeholder relationships, and help ensure our messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with our Department's goals.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• Proven communications experience, with the ability to develop clear, engaging, and audience-focused content across a range of channels and formats.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the confidence to provide trusted advice to leaders, managers, and project teams.
• Experience partnering with leaders as a trusted adviser, providing strategic guidance and practical solutions.
• Confidence using digital communications channels, content management systems, intranet platforms, and emerging technologies to deliver effective communication outcomes.
• An understanding of the New Zealand public sector environment and the ability to operate effectively in a complex and politically aware setting.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The midpoint of the salary range is $123,511 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $104,985 - $148,214 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: Sunday the 1^st of November

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact Sarah.Newbold@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.

We are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this role. Unsolicited CVs submitted by agencies will not be accepted and no agency fees will apply.