Senior People Advisor - Fixed Term - Palmerston North at Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Manawatu-Whanganui

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Gain exposure to a wide range of ER matters
• Process and Quality focused
• Salary range $114,663-$127,404, actual salary dependent on skills & experience

Foster a thriving people-centric culture by providing ER and HR support to Managers and Brigade Leaders.

Mō tēnei tūranga - about the role

The Senior People Advisor reports to the Wellington based Regional People Business Partner and will be in a team of four, providing ER and HR support to the leaders in the diverse Te Ūpoko Region (encompassing Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui and Taranaki districts). The role is fixed term until the end of January 2027.

This role is based in Palmerston North, but travel to other locations around the lower half of the North Island will be needed.

The role involves offering timely, grounded advice, evaluating the current state, and recommending solutions.

No two days are the same. In this role you could find yourself:

• Supporting a manager to interpret and apply an employment agreement clause
• Working on a complex ER issue 
• On an interview panel to hire a new leader
• Supporting the delivery of a national people-based initiatives into the region

Critical to this role will be your ability to hit the ground running. Ideally, you will also be familiar with working in a highly unionised environment and comfortable working autonomously.

Ko tāu nā i tēnei tūranga - What you'll bring to the role:

We're looking for a confident and adaptable HR professional who can build trust and credibility to influence leadership thinking. You'll be comfortable managing complex ER cases, navigating ambiguity, and responding to evolving situations with a composed and professional approach. Strong organisational skills are essential, as you'll need to juggle competing priorities to ensure matters are progressing.

To be successful in this role, we'd expect you will:

• Have well-developed interpersonal and writing skills
• Proven and recent experience in resolving complex ER matters alongside managers
• A good knowledge of current New Zealand employment law and contemporary HR practices
• The ability to apply sound judgement and make pragmatic decisions in line with policies, processes, best practice and employment law.
• Be able to drive and hold a current drivers licence

As this role supports the Te Ūpoko region, applicants should be able to travel and be available for occasional after-hours work to engage effectively with our dedicated volunteers at their local fire station.

The salary range for this role is $114,663 - $127,404, dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

Ko wai mātou - who are we? 

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is a Crown Entity responsible for reducing unwanted fires, responding to structural and vegetation fires and other emergencies including motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous substance related incidents, natural disasters, and supporting increased community resilience.

Our vision is to build stronger communities and protect what matters most to the people within them. We are proud to be recognised as New Zealand's most trusted public sector agency. Our values reflect what our people believe is core to who we are and the organisation we aspire to be.

• We Do the Right Thing – Kia Tika
• We Serve and Support – Manaakitanga
• We Are Better Together – Whanaungatanga
• We Strive to Improve – Auahatanga

Ko te tono mai - How to apply:

Come join us - we are excited about the future of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and we'd love you to be part of it! We value diversity as a strength and welcome applicants that can help bring a difference to our organisation.

If this sounds like you, apply now. To download a copy of our position description please visit our vacancy page on our FireJobs website. 

If you have any specific questions about this role please email nhqjobs@fireandemergency.nz

However please note, applications sent via email will not be accepted.

Applications close 25^th May 2026

Please note:  Eligibility to work in New Zealand is mandatory for this role.