Senior Communications and Media Advisor

**_Have exceptional people and writing skills, with a great eye for detail?_**:

- **_Hold prior public sector communications and/or media experience? _**:

- **_Want a fast-paced environment, with flexible hybrid working options?_**_
- **

Great, we want to hear from you Customs is searching for a talented and motivated professional who is keen to lead internal and external communications planning and delivery for an exciting, large-scale regulatory change project.

**What you'll be doing | He aha tāu e mahi ana**

This is a dynamic and hands-on role where you'll enjoy working at both strategic and operational levels and no two days are the same. You'll be the go-to person for providing high quality advice to inform, engage and educate staff and the wider public as we move through the implementation phase of an upcoming regulatory change.

This role will be part of an implementation project team where you'll be responsible for communications planning and delivery to highlight key decisions and changes, support staff and stakeholder engagement initiatives, develop compelling stories, and take charge of proactive and reactive media responsibilities.

**Responsibilities will include**:

- Develop communications plans to inform, engage, and educate staff and the public.
- Translate complex information into clear and concise material for target audiences.
- Manage media opportunities and enquiries, including organising media interviews.
- Oversee internal communications to build staff understanding and readiness.
- This is a fixed term contract for 12 months and you will report to the Communications and Media Manag_e_r. The salary range for this role is $106,618 to $137,746._

**About You | Ko wai koe**

To be successful in this role you'll be a capable, well-established professional with a strong generalist communications and/or media background who is used to liaising with, and providing advice to, colleagues at all levels in an organisation.

With at least five years' experience in a communications and/or media advisory role, your relationship management skills, media and social media nous, written and verbal communication know-how, and can-do attitude are already second to none.

You will need to be able to think critically and strategically about reputational risk and develop fit-for-purpose plans, with the ability to interpret data, understand audiences' needs, and tailor communications efforts to suit the project and Customs' wider objectives.

**Why Join Us | Mahi ki te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa**

At Customs, we protect and promote New Zealand through world-class border management.

You'll be part of a collaborative, high-performing team committed to successfully delivering regulatory change that supports New Zealand's future border operations.

The role offers variety, challenge, and the chance to make a meaningful contribution to New Zealand's border and national security.

We value diversity, integrity, and a spirit of service. We also encourage the use of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga in the workplace.

**Working for Customs | Mahi ki te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa**

To work for Customs, you must be able to meet the following requirements:

- Be a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident
- Have resided continuously in New Zealand for the last 5 years*
- _If you are a New Zealand Citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident who has resided in New Zealand for the last 5 years but have been absent from New Zealand for periods of 6-9 months within the past five years, preferably in one or more of the following countries: either Australia, Canada, UK or the USA then you will be required to provide overseas Police certificates for these periods spent outside of New Zealand._

Successful applicants are also required to pass a drug test and have a clear Police record.

**Applications close on Sunday 19 October 2025 at 11pm.**

Customs will manage this recruitment independently in-house and will not engage with recruitment agencies at this stage.

**Job details**:

- Reference #
- 46173
- Posted on
- 03 Oct 2025
- Closes on
- 19 Oct 2025
- Location(s)
- Auckland, Wellington
- Expertise
- Management
- Job level(s)
- Experienced
- Work type(s)
- Fixed Term Full Time
- Additional attachment