Communications advisor

Overview

Strategic Communications Advisor

Live, work and play in Aotearoa New Zealand’s most spectacular setting.

No two days at Queenstown Lakes District Council are the same. Every day we provide services, facilities and programmes essential to the health and wellbeing of our people and environment, while stepping up to the challenges and opportunities that come with being New Zealand’s fastest growing territorial authority.

We’re proud to be QLDC. Our people are motivated by a shared purpose driven by care, connection and community. All our roles are at the heart of a dynamic and diverse set of communities where you will be making a genuine difference every day. Join us.

We are looking for a Strategic Communications Advisor to join our Engagement and Communications team. The successful applicant will hold a pivotal role in shaping and delivering clear, engaging, and effective communications that support the Strategy and Policy team’s work, including Climate & Biodiversity, Spatial Planning, Policy development, government reform, iwi partnerships, and economic development.

What you’ll be doing

The Strategic Communications Advisor is a member of the Engagement and Communications team. This role ensures that strategic initiatives, policy development, and community engagement and research efforts are communicated in a way that builds trust, transparency, and understanding across the Queenstown Lakes District. The advisor will work collaboratively across Council teams to align messaging, support engagement and formal consultation processes, and enhance the visibility, impact and understanding of strategic projects.

This role will involve :

• Develop and implement comprehensive communications strategies for strategic and corporate policy initiatives and projects — including public consultations, community research programmes, engagement with strategic partners and stakeholders, long-term activity planning, and bylaw development / reviews.
• Translate complex policy, strategy and project information into clear, accessible, engaging content and long-term storytelling for diverse audiences across channels.
• Produce and support key documents and outputs (reports, discussion papers, media releases, web content, social posts) and work closely with the in-house design team to deliver accessible, creative visual assets.
• Coordinate and deliver public engagement activities (events, workshops, digital platforms) and advise managers on engagement and consultation approaches in line with QLDC’s Significance & Engagement Policy, the Local Government Act and IAP2 practice.
• Provide strategic communications advice on risks, opportunities and stakeholder engagement; develop key messaging and prepare speeches / talking points for the Mayor and Chief Executive in collaboration with subject matter experts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media, community groups and external stakeholders (working with the Media & Channels Advisor), and manage internal staff communications to increase understanding of strategic projects.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on communications and engagement effectiveness — ensuring “closing the loop”, lessons learned are captured, and strategies are adjusted.
• Act as a member of the Council’s Public Information Management team during emergency activations and participate in the Winter Roads morning update and out-of-hours communications support rosters; follow brand, media and local government publication policies and support the Engagement & Communications Manager as required.

What you’ll bring to the role / Ko wai to Pukeka

A strong background in strategic communications, with proven experience delivering high-quality engagement and consultation in complex government or community settings. You’ll be an exceptional communicator with the ability to influence, build trusted relationships, and manage multiple priorities under pressure.

To best succeed in this role, you’ll have :

What we offer / Ko a matou whakaratoka

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, wellbeing, and professional growth, including :

To apply, please follow the link or for any questions please contact Naell Crosby-Roe, Stakeholder & Democracy Services Manager on

Applications close : Tuesday, 14th October 2025.

Please note we will review and process applications as they come through; we encourage your early application.

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