Department for Business and Trade Looking for NZW – Senior Communications Adviser, HEO at Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand Full Time

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) takes place in Samoa in October 2024: connected to this, UK Government delegates including ministers may visit New Zealand. This role will be project-based, leading on the preparations for and delivery of all press and communications elements connected with these visits, and providing cover in the absence of the High Commission’s Communications Manager.

Working to the High Commission’s Leadership Team and with a visits officer responsible for an overall programme, you will lead the planning and delivery of all Comms elements of events in the lead up to CHOGM.

You will have support from and work closely alongside a Communications Officer and collaborate with posts across the Pacific region and with UK Government colleagues based in London.

The role is an excellent opportunity to deliver a substantive high-level communications programme.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

In This Role You Will Be Responsible For

• Supporting the High Commissioner and team in Wellington by developing and delivering an ambitious Strategic Comms Plan for a programme of engagement that is complementary with the UK’s objectives for CHOGM and for the bilateral relationship between the UK and New Zealand.
• Oversee a strategic management approach to relevant UKinNZ events, ensuring coherence with our overall strategy and that messaging maximises the impact of public events.
• Drafting and agreeing press releases, setting up and delivering engagements with local media (interviews/press conferences), being conscious of comms opportunities and mitigating risks, working closely with a visits officer who will have overall responsibility for visit programmes.
• Supporting visiting UK delegates on the ground in managing engagements with local media.

In Doing This Job, The Successful Applicant Will

• Become an integral part of the High Commission team supporting official UK delegations during, and in the lead-up to CHOGM;
• Build excellent relationships within a short time, work effectively across different teams and time zones (which may sometimes necessitate working at antisocial hours),
• Be organised, maintain attention to detail, and be able to work independently where required.

Resources Managed (staff And Expenditure)

This position does not involve line management but will be expected to show leadership on its programme of work while working within a tight budget.