Senior Communications Advisor, Vanessa Weenink MP

Bring your first-class Communications experience to the heart of Parliament

About the role | Mō te tūnga:

Vanessa Weenink MP is looking for a Senior Communications Advisor to join her team in the Electorate/Community office in Banks Peninsula Christchurch, for up to 30 hours per week. This is a 7-month fixed term maternity cover role.

In this role, you'll get the opportunity to lead, create, shape, and grow all matters relating to the MP's communications and social media. This is a wide and varied role: one day you could be out representing your MP in the community, building relationships with business owners or visiting the local schools; the next, you might be assisting with managing social media channels and be across technological trends. For the day-to-day tasks, please see below for a deeper look into the exciting work you'll do.

What you will bring to the role | Tō kete:

You'll ideally have a wide range of experience to call upon for this position, along with proven real-world experience in communications. Your previous positions will have given you the insights to be a collaborator, investigator, go-to person, and driver for all things relating to comms. Please ensure your application clearly outlines how your experience and skills would make you a match for the role.

Responsibilities | Ngā haepapa:

• Lead the development and implementation of the MP's communications plan
• Identify and recommend opportunities to promote the MP's Parliamentary profile to the public across media; print, television, radio, and social
• Lead the development and implementation of all communication materials, in line with the communications plan: including media releases, radio interview content, speech writing, briefing notes, newspaper articles, website content, newsletters, global correspondence, long term canvassing materials, and social media
• Write material in relation to current reactive topics specific to the MP's electorate and/or areas of interest
• Create, identify, advise, and recommend on media opportunities for the MP
• Chart, assess, and evaluate the performance of all media and report this to the MP
• Create and maintain positive working relationships with local and regional media, and networks both inside and outside Parliament to support the MP's profile and media engagement
• Organise and run press briefings, conferences, and media advisories for the MP

Why work for Parliamentary Service? | He aha te pai o te mahi ki Te Ratonga Whare Pāremata?

• We offer a range of benefits including 5 weeks' annual leave, an eye and hearing subsidy, and an annual well-being payment.
• You will receive an induction from Parliamentary Service to set you up to succeed, as well as having access to ongoing learning, development, and professional networking opportunities.
• We are proud of He Ao Takitaki (our Te Ao Māori strategy); we offer karakia, waiata, and reo Māori opportunities along with opportunities through other staff networks.
• Our core values are at the heart of how we work: Integrity, Manaakitanga, Accountability, Whanaungatanga, and Empowerment.

As an employee of Parliamentary Service, you will be politically impartial in your role. An awareness of the political landscape may be beneficial in supporting your MP.

The pay band for the role starts at $83,550 per annum and appointments will be based on skills and experience. All employees who work for MPs are employed on an 'events-based' agreement, with your employment linked to your MP. This role is fixed term based in the Electorate/Community office in Banks Peninsula Christchurch, for up to 30 hours per week.

If you want to work in a role and environment unlike any other—one that is hugely rewarding and exciting, with the chance to make a difference—please apply now.

Applications close Sunday 7 December 2025 at midnight.

If you have any questions, please contact

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process. 

The Parliamentary Service and the Office of the Clerk appoint on merit and are committed to diversity and inclusion and good employer principles. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and value the experience that your point of difference brings.