Senior Advisor - District and Internal Communications

New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe. With over 15,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day. We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.

We're working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver and achieve long-term change.

• Based at Southern District Headquarters, Dunedin
• Permanent - Full Time
• Job Reference 5920437

E t u ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e nga ngaru o te wa.

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mo te tunga | About the role

Join a team that plays a critical part in growing the trust and confidence among colleagues and our communities.

Owing to a rare vacancy, New Zealand Police is seeking a communications professional to develop and implement communications across Southern District.

Working with local Police leadership, frontline officers and employees, we're looking for a values-driven specialist to deliver high quality, engaging and timely information.

The role blends strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You'll be writing, advising and making and managing content that will be seen by staff and the public.

Based in Dunedin, you'll be a solo operator backed up by a dispersed network of fellow senior advisors reporting to Media and Communications at Police National Headquarters.

The job will require you to travel across all three Southern District policing areas: Otago Coastal; Otago Lakes Central; and Southland.

Become one of around 15,000 staff delivering services to ensure everybody is safe and feels safe.

Nga kawenga matua | Key Accountabilities

• Help deliver on the Commissioner's priorities.
• Support our trust and confidence objectives.
• Source, create and maintain communications.
• Provide advice on risk and opportunity and contribute to the leadership team.
• Ensure staff get the information they need, in a way they can easily access.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you'll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Experience delivering internal and external communications and projects.
• Experience supporting senior leaders and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience writing for digital platforms (e.g. intranet and/or websites).
• Working knowledge of PowerPoint and the Adobe suite (including Photoshop).
• Proficiency with video editing software.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands effectively.
• Previous internal communications experience in a large, diverse organisation would be an advantage.

Whakaritenga motuhake | Special requirements

This role is Individual Contributor/Emerging Leader level. You can refer to Indicators of Success for further information on the requirements.

Senior Advisor - Internal and District Communications - Position Description

Mo tatou | About us

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government's largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at New Zealand Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you'll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

Applicant Information Pack (External)

Tono inaianei | Apply now

If this position sounds like you, click apply now and submit a tailored CV. You will be required to submit an application form. Before confirmation of hire, pre-employment checks will be undertaken which include reference, drug and alcohol testing and police vetting prior to any written offer being made.

For further information on the application process, please copy and paste this URL: https://www.police.govt.nz/careers

All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted directly via email. All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.

Utu a-tau | Salary

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $110,425 and $117,014 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

If you are an internal applicant, you must apply internally through the police system. You must provide an alternative contact email address and state your future commitments should you be successful in the next stage of the recruitment process.

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5.00pm on Thursday 11 June 2026. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Sarah Payne ( ***email_hidden*** ).