"Adviser, External Communications"

Job Description:

• Do you have experience planning media across a large, complex organisation?
• Are you a confident and passionate communications expert with great media relationships?
• Can you translate technical information into easily understood content for a diverse audience across a variety of channels?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington are currently recruiting for an Adviser, External Communications to join the newly formed Takitoru - Communications, Marketing and Digital Engagement Group on a permanent, full-time contract.

Following a reorganisation to form an integrated team, we are excited to announce several key roles. The Takitoru - Communications, Marketing and Digital Engagement Group will play a pivotal role in enhancing the University's reputation and supporting its strategic goals through targeted, innovative, and effective communications and marketing. The Group will foster greater collaboration, unified messaging, and enhanced creativity to engage our many audiences.

The Adviser, External Communications is responsible for helping to lead external communications, including creating content such as media release and pitches, news stories, videos, and social media posts for a range of publication, websites, and social media channels and audiences. Writing responsibilities will include storytelling including web articles, video, and multimedia assets for a variety of channels to enhance the University’s external profile. The Adviser will lead communications projects across the group and will also write speeches on occasion.

This role will work closely with the Adviser, Internal Communications, the Principal Adviser, Media Content, Strategic Engagement, and will be managed by the Manager, Communications.

Key responsibilities:

• Write and edit engaging media pitches and releases.
• Develop and produce high-quality content, including stories, video, and multimedia assets—for a variety of channels.
• Innovate, develop, and follow through with communications and media plans for strategic projects.
• Develop content, including video and presentations, for a variety of channels, including social media.
• Be part of the communications response in emergency situations.

Ō Pūmanawa - About you

The ideal candidate will have a couple of years’ experience as a communications professional and be looking for the next step in their career. You are a motivated individual with a passion for communicating and a keen eye for detail. You have excellent writing and editing skills, and the ability to adapt content and tone to suit channel and audience. You have experience in communications planning, stakeholder management, and audio-visual content creation.

Your exceptional organisational skills and ability to remain calm under pressure will enable you to balance meeting deadlines and maintaining quality of work. You will enjoy working autonomously and contributing to developing a positive team culture.

Key requirements:

• At least two years’ experience in communications roles.
• Experience in producing high-quality written and oral communications and a demonstrated ability to write to a corporate, professional standard.
• Experience in media planning and writing for a diverse audience.
• Experience of speechwriting for events.
• Experience in emergency communications.
• Knowledge of social media, writing for the web, and audio-visual production.
• Proven ability to build strong working relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to work at significant pace and under pressure.

An understanding of universities and the tertiary sector and its policy and operating environment would be an advantage.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University career's page.

Close date for vacancy: 04 February 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Sarah Forster (sarah.forster@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter. Applicants who do not have residency or citizenship and require a visa to work at the University must clearly indicate their visa status in their application and understand that if they do not have a current, relevant visa, they will need to secure this independently.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.

About Us

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.