Principal Advisor, Communications and Engagement at Serious Fraud Office, Wellington

Principal Advisor, Communications and Engagement– Wellington or Auckland  

Behind every complex fraud is a story of deception, of harm, and of trust broken. At the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), we disrupt and deter serious fraud and corruption through prevention, investigation and prosecution. But our work doesn't end there. How those stories are told – clearly, credibly, and with impact – matters. If you're looking for a communications and engagement role that is challenging, high-stakes, and genuinely matters, this one could be for you. 

The SFO is a highly specialised law enforcement agency. We take pride in the work we do to keep New Zealand safe from fraud and corruption, protecting our reputation as a safe place to do business.  

We employ a talented team of lawyers, forensic accountants, investigators, and electronic forensic, counter fraud and policy experts to do just that and, importantly, we have a small corporate services team that supports our operational teams. Numbering eighty, we are a cohesive team with a strong sense of justice and a vibrant culture. Come join us. 

About the role 

You will be a trusted strategic partner to the Executive Leadership Team, shaping how the SFO communicates, engages, and positions itself across the justice sector and with the public. The role provides authoritative, high-quality advice that supports organisational priorities, protects and strengthens reputation, and builds public and stakeholder confidence. You will lead the design and Hands-on delivery of high impact internal and external communications and engagement initiatives that are timely, practical, and aligned with Ministerial and public sector expectations. Working closely with senior leaders, you will influence decision-making, connect organisational functions, and ensure communication is coherent, consistent, and accountable across all channels and audiences.  

The role also includes cultivating and managing strategic stakeholder relationships, delivering expert media management, and overseeing the quality and impact of publications, digital channels, and social media to reinforce the SFO's visibility, credibility, and brand. As a senior subject matter expert, you will combine strategic insight with a highly practical approach, leading by example into a small, high trust, high impact environment. 

About you 

To succeed in this role, you will build trust, drive engagement, plan and align work effectively, and manage complexity in high accountability environments. You will bring a hands-on approach with proven experience in strategic communications and engagement, preferably within an operational agency in the New Zealand public sector or a similarly complex setting, and a strong track record of advising senior leaders and influencing organisational decision making. You will be experienced in managing high-profile and sensitive issues, including media, major enquiries, reputation and risk management, and in delivering integrated communications across digital, social, and traditional channels. Success also requires strong strategic and advisory skills for excellent communication, sound judgement, political acumen, and an understanding of public sector context and expectations. You will also have the ability to operate proactively and adaptively in fast-moving environments. 

About the SFO 

At the SFO we value a ‘growth mindset' and explore this attribute during our recruitment process and in our development discussions. We believe possessing a growth mindset is a key contributor to success in the SFO environment. We are a close and motivated team with a strong workplace culture. We recognise that diversity and inclusion are important to our work. We value the unique abilities and perspectives of our employees which allow us to continue to create a supportive environment that meets the needs of our people, our business, and the communities where we work. We encourage applications from individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive and respectful workplace.  

The position description for this role is below. Please copy and paste this link into your browser: 

SFO-Principal-Advisor-Communications-and-Engagement-Position-Description.pdf

If you would like further information about this role, you are welcome to email the recruitment team at recruitment@sfo.govt.nz.

If you wish to apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter (attachments titled ‘First Name Last Name – CV or Cover Letter') via the following link by copy and paste the URL into your browser:

https://sfo.bamboohr.com/careers/67

You can learn more about working for the SFO in this video:  https://youtu.be/rn0d419HJ0g

Applications close at 4PM Friday 17 April 2026