Senior Innovation Specialist

• Are you an innovation pro who can hold the room when the dynamics get complex?
• Do you thrive on facilitating breakthroughs with diverse groups – from startups to C-suite executives?
• Keen to work with corporates, governments, and high-growth ventures to push boundaries and create real impact?

We hope so because we're looking for a Senior Innovation Specialist, and we need your facilitation expertise

Our Senior Innovation Specialists teach clients to solve real-world problems using applied innovation tools and methodologies. They lead coaching, training, and upskilling of Creative HQ clients and ventures – startups, governments, NGOs, and corporates – both domestically and abroad.

For this role, we're specifically seeking someone with exceptional facilitation skills. We already have strong startup coaching capability on the team. What we need now is someone who excels at facilitating complex, high-stakes sessions with corporate clients, government agencies, and multi-stakeholder groups.

• Facilitating high-impact innovation programmes – leading sprints, discovery labs, executive workshops, and multi-day programmes where stakeholder dynamics are complex and outcomes matter
• Designing, managing and delivering innovation programmes – from accelerators to workshops, both in-person and online
• Navigating difficult group dynamics – reading the room, pivoting in real-time, and creating conditions where diverse groups move from stuck to unstoppable
• Managing client relationships – working with senior stakeholders and ensuring exceptional client experiences
• Managing complex projects – overseeing initiatives from design through delivery, coordinating multiple stakeholders, timelines, and moving parts
• Coaching and mentoring startup teams, corporate innovators, and government changemakers.

• Proven facilitation mastery with corporate, government, or multi-stakeholder groups – you handle difficult dynamics, command presence without dominating, and extract clarity from chaos, including comfort using online collaboration tools
• 5+ years leading innovation work – designing and delivering programmes using Lean Startup, Agile, Design Thinking, sprints, and accelerators, and the ability to apply them contextually
• Comfort with ambiguity and high-stakes environments – connecting dots amid imperfect information
• Senior stakeholder confidence – managing client relationships, budgets, RFPs, and working with executive teams
• A track record of repeat client engagements – people value your work
• Flexibility for extended travel - comfortable with trips up to 2 weeks for on-the-ground programme delivery, particularly in Pacific regions.

Highly Desirable: Professional facilitation training, entrepreneurial experience, working knowledge of AI in innovation, experience with C-suite/senior government officials, project and stakeholder management skills, and leadership experience.

Always Important: Cultural capability development, team spirit, relationship-building skills, sense of humour and common sense.

• Flexible workplace with strong team connections (3 days/week in office)
• Growth opportunities and dedicated training budget
• Award-winning, supportive team where bold moves are encouraged
• Meaningful work – 22 years empowering 39,000+ people, 500+ startups, 1,900+ jobs.

We know job applications can feel overwhelming (especially at this time of the year), so let's chat Email our People Lead, Bex Grace, on about the role and the team.

To apply:

Email your CV and a  brief response (250 words max) to this question: "Tell us about a time you facilitated a particularly complex or challenging session. What made it difficult, and how did you approach it?" Applications close Monday 8 December 2025.

Wellington-based | Extended travel required (up to 2 weeks at a time), particularly for Pacific-based projects

Full-time, Permanent

Our values: WE GO TOGETHER | WE CHALLENGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE | WE BRING THE ENERGY

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Creative HQ is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.