Principal Advisor at New Zealand Transport Agency, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Lead external communication and engagement activities
• Have a key role in transport infrastructure and safety projects across the Greater Wellington region
• Environment where you will be challenged to learn and grow

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

An exciting opportunity to join the team delivering best-practice strategic engagement and communications for transport projects in the Greater Wellington region.

If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment on complex, inter-linked projects or programmes of work that can be technical and ambiguous; you have experience in government, as well as developing and managing communications across a range of channels to tell one transport story; and are quick to identify risks and manage engagement across Waka Kotahi and our external partners/stakeholders, then we need you.

This is a key role within the Greater Wellington and Southern communications and engagement team; you will develop and deliver communications and engagement for infrastructure projects and programmes, working across Waka Kotahi, working with our partners, stakeholders and community to develop projects which improve the lives of people living in our communities.

You will have the ability to inspire, lead and mentor your colleagues while building strong relationships with a diverse group of people. You will successfully help manage our reputation, because scanning for and managing risks is as much second nature to you as storytelling is. Critically, you will have the skills to deliver leading edge communications and engagement to support critical programmes of work.

We are looking for a technically strong and experienced communications and engagement practitioner, who is motivated and comfortable influencing others. You need to manage complex relationships within and outside the organisation; and be capable of delivering communication/engagement strategies.

You will have a pragmatic approach to communications and be familiar with a range of tools. What we do makes a difference and we are building a strong highly skilled and engaged team.

Note that we have x2 Principal Advisor roles available in our team. One role is focused on general transport infrastructure projects and the other has a focus on safety and speed and infrastructure programmes across the region. Please indicate in your application which role you are interested in.



Ko koe tēnei | About you

To be successful in this role you will have the following:

• Experience in successfully delivering complex communication and engagement strategies
• A flexible, can-do attitude with the drive to deliver
• A self-starter who delivers first-class results
• Experience leading complex programmes of work, while providing hands-on delivery
• Previous experience in communications and engagement planning and delivery, working as part of a team and across a large organisation
• Excellent writing and editing skills and experience presenting complex information
• Sound knowledge of communication and engagement tools, techniques and channels
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning in the field of engagement and communications
• Demonstrated knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori
• Knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector
• A tertiary qualification in communications or a related discipline

Ko wai mātou | About us

At Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, it all starts with our people. The organisation's performance and success depends on the people who choose to make this a great place to work and make a difference for New Zealand. We have a strong future focus, understanding that new technologies and changing customer expectations mean the land transport system we know today will not be the one we deliver in ten years' time.


As a business group, Te Waka Kōtuia Engagement and Partnerships Group supports the success of Waka Kotahi by strengthening relationships with our partners, communities and industry. We do this by telling great stories about the work Waka Kotahi does. Our diverse work spans a range of partners and stakeholders - we support Ministers, coordinate collaboration across central government, lead relationships with our local government partners, and engage directly with the New Zealand public.

Along with our other benefits we also have Waka Kotahi Life, Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance scheme available for permanent employees.

View the Position Description


Rā Katinga | Applications close : Midnight Sunday 26th March

For further information, email: careers@nzta.govt.nz

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.

If you are a contractor/temp currently working with Waka Kotahi, you may apply for internal vacancies however please note that we will give consideration to permanent employees first.

Don't see the Refer button? This role is only able to be applied for by internal candidates so you are unable to refer external candidates for this role.