Main purpose of job:

To lead the communications and public diplomacy activities of the UK in New Zealand network.

The Communications Manager is responsible for shaping and delivering the British High Commission’s external engagement across media, digital platforms, and public diplomacy activity.

The role supports the High Commissioner and wider mission to communicate the UK’s priorities in New Zealand and strengthen the UK–New Zealand partnership across areas including trade and investment, foreign policy, defence, climate, and science.

Working closely with the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and policy teams, the jobholder ensures that communications, events and high-level visits are coordinated and mutually reinforcing, presenting a clear and coherent narrative of the UK’s engagement with New Zealand. The jobholder also ensures that the Uk in New Zealand network is delivering successfully on social media.

The role offers the opportunity to operate at the centre of the UK’s diplomatic engagement in New Zealand, supporting senior diplomats and visiting ministers to deliver high-profile engagements and national media moments. The successful candidate will act as a trusted adviser to the High Commissioner and senior leadership team, helping shape how the UK’s partnership with New Zealand is communicated to government, media and the public.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

The bilateral relationship with New Zealand is a priority for the UK. Managing our public messaging is a key part of that relationship and is at the heart of our work as the UK in NZ team. Our work covers the full range of UK government interests – political, trade and investment, defence, science, economics, and consular policy.

At the British High Commission in Wellington, we operate in a fast-paced and outward-facing environment, working closely with New Zealand partners on a wide range of issues that reinforce our shared values. The jobholder will oversee our communications across these diverse portfolios, working closely with policy teams and subject-matter experts to translate complex policy into a clear and engaging public narrative.

The jobholder will own and lead the New Zealand network’s communications strategy, act as Press Officer to the High Commissioner and senior visitors, manage the communications team, oversee engagement on social media, and support the delivery of public diplomacy and stakeholder engagement across the UK in NZ network.

They will be expected to build strong relationships internally and externally to amplify the High Commission’s and wider UK Government’s work in New Zealand.

The jobholder should be as comfortable communicating through traditional media channels as with digital and social media, designing and delivering professional campaigns and engagement activities that generate high-impact connections with New Zealand audiences. They will ensure our messaging remains consistent, clear and relevant to the New Zealand context.

To do this, the successful candidate should have a sound understanding of the New Zealand media landscape, and some knowledge of the UK media landscape, and have the ability to understand, digest and communicate complex policy issues – ranging from climate change to trade policy to foreign affairs – in engaging and creative ways.

Strategic Communications (50%)

• Manage the UK in NZ communications strategy, reflecting UK priorities and supporting delivery of UK in NZ objectives across both the Wellington and Auckland offices.
• Work with Team Leaders to understand overarching policy objectives and design New Zealand-relevant campaigns that support the High Commission’s key messages.
• Stay attuned to emerging issues that affect the UK in New Zealand, formulating communications responses in coordination with relevant teams and providing advice to the leadership team.
• Oversee a range of communications activities to deliver the strategy across traditional media, digital channels and public diplomacy activity.
• Ensure communications activity is aligned with major diplomatic engagements, visits and events to maximise the impact of UK in NZ messaging.
• Evaluate UK in NZ campaigns and adapt the communications strategy to maximise the reach and impact of our messaging.
• Lead liaison with the FCDO Communications Directorate in London, ensuring UK in NZ content responds to and aligns with central UK Government communications priorities and campaigns.
• Lead the comms response to any crisis (e.g. natural disaster) that the UK in New Zealand network has to manage.
  

Press Secretary (20%)

• Proactively manage the High Commissioner’s media engagement and act as the lead media advisor to the High Commissioner.
• Manage media logistics and prepare briefings for media engagement by the High Commissioner and senior visitors, including visiting UK ministers and senior officials.
• Develop and deliver communications plans for incoming visits and major announcements, ensuring strong media and stakeholder visibility.
• Provide on-the-day communications support and advice during interviews and media engagements.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with key media figures in New Zealand and internationally where required.
• Work closely with UK Government communications teams in London, including departmental press offices and visiting press teams, to coordinate media engagement for senior visits.
  

Regional Leadership (10%)

• Provide communications support to smaller posts in the Pacific where appropriate, helping amplify UK activity across the region.
• Work with colleagues across the UK Pacific network, including the Pacific Hub in Suva, to coordinate public diplomacy activity and messaging on priority themes such as climate change and human rights.
• Contribute to the UK Government’s wider Indo-Pacific communications efforts by sharing best practice and supporting regional collaboration.
  

Manage the Media Team (20%)

• Lead and develop the UK in NZ communications team.
• Line manages the Communications Officer (with a focus on digital media and events).
• Work closely with colleagues across the network, including Auckland, to identify opportunities to amplify UK activity in New Zealand.
• Oversee all digital content and communications planning, including social media, blogs, podcasts and video, ensuring alignment with the communications strategy and wider UK Government priorities.
• Support a coordinated approach to public diplomacy events, ensuring they reinforce the High Commission’s strategic messaging and policy priorities.
• Manage the communications team and campaigns budget, ensuring effective use of resources and value for money
• Provide financial projections and accurate expenditure tracking for communications and campaign activity.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line manages the Communications Officer.

• Demonstrated experience in communications, media relations, public diplomacy, or stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear and engaging messaging.
• Experience developing and delivering communications campaigns across traditional and digital media.
• Strong understanding of the New Zealand media landscape and experience building productive relationships with journalists and stakeholders.
• Experience advising senior leaders and managing communications in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to coordinate across teams and manage multiple priorities while delivering high-quality outputs to tight deadlines.