Senior Advisor

**Kia ora** Are you someone who has a passion for working in the community? Do you have energy and enjoy growing people's knowledge and capability? Your exceptional expertise in community engagement could be helping us to influence, motivate and support others to participate in New Zealand's democratic processes

If this sounds like you, enquire now for this full time, permanent role with us

**Mo tenei turanga mahi | About the role**

The core purpose of this role is to activate civic participation across T maki Makaurau and surrounding areas. You will be required to build and support relationships that enable and empower groups of diverse communities to understand, engage and participate in the democratic system like Local Body Elections and General Elections.

This is a Grade 17 role with a Salary band of $108,140 - $120,160.

**Mohou ake | About you**

You are values driven and will have a good understanding of tikanga me ona te reo M ori with a willingness to continue to grow this knowledge and weave this into all you do. You will be an engagement practitioner with strong connections across T maki Makaurau and beyond. You will build and maintain reciprocal relationships with Tangata Whenua and other diverse communities while building sustainable working partnerships in your region. Language skills that reflect the diverse communities we work with will be an advantage.

You will lead scoping, developing, implementing, and reporting on localised impactful community campaigns and activations. You will utilise your can-do attitude to identify and respond to challenges and risks as they arise, work collaboratively with others in the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships team and actively contribute to all training and learning opportunities.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Provide technical and operational leadership to the Community Engagement team.
- Practice and lead engagement best practice.
- Develop and foster relationships through internal and external engagement.
- With support, effectively and efficiently respond to public and media enquiries while maintaining political neutrality.
- Support the delivery of electoral events.
- Engage with local community champions.
- Monitor and report on activities and results.
- Lead a continuous improvement approach.
- Contribute to the effectiveness and achievement of team and SEP goals.

This role will be key in maintaining and developing community partnerships with communities and organisations.

**To be successful in this role you need the following**:

- Experience in leading, motivating, empowering, coaching and building effective teams.
- Experience in developing and delivering community engagement initiatives across communities and regions.
- Ability to build knowledge of community and required networks.
- Experience in the delivery of operational policies and procedures based on legislation.
- Ability to work effectively and independently under pressure to meet deadlines.
- Professional and results-oriented approach with good business and customer focus.
- Strong connections within specific communities.

**Te Kaitiaki Take Kowhiri |About the Electoral Commission**

The Commission is values based and has an inclusive strength-focused culture where diversity and inclusion are encouraged and valued. We understand how important family is and support a family-friendly work environment. You will be part of a team who are here to promote participation and understanding and are passionate about supporting people's voices to be heard.

The Electoral Commission wants every New Zealander to trust, value and take part in parliamentary elections. We are an independent Crown Entity who works with and through communities to inform, engage and educate New Zealanders about the value of participation, make it easy for them to enrol and vote, promote understanding of New Zealand's democratic processes, and deliver parliamentary elections and referenda.

**Applications close at 11pm on 7 September 2025.**

**_ You must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand._