Manager Communications

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

A strategic leadership position in MBIE, the Manager Communications provides direction and leadership to its portfolio DCE/s and Business Groups leadership teams to meet their strategic and business objectives. The position brings business understanding, strategic capability and the ability to work in partnership with senior managers and leaders to build Business Group engagement and communications strategies that are effective in delivering business outcomes. The Manager Communications leads and manages a dedicated team of communications professionals to work closely with their Business Groups to deliver both Business Group and MBIE Communications strategies and initiatives.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• All employees are required to comply with MBIE’s vaccination policy which seeks to protect the wellbeing, health and safety of our people, their whānau and the community. You are required to hold a valid vaccination pass to be employed at MBIE.

Experience

• 5 – 7 years of management communications experience
• Significant experience operating at the enterprise-wide level with senior and executive stakeholders
• Proven success in developing and executing measureable and business aligned communications strategies and plans
• Proven success in leading and managing a team and maintaining a team environment focussed on continuous improvement
• Proven success in managing internal and external senior stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience in achieving business outcomes through effective communications
• Proven success in a portfolio or functional management communications role

Knowledge

• Deep understanding of communications principles and frameworks
• Understanding of developing nature of modern communications practices
• High level understanding of government processes

Skills

• Highly developed business acumen and strategic analysis skills and experience
• Able to demonstrate innovative qualities in the use of new media and new technologies
• The ability to work at all levels of the organisation and relate to and gain the confidence of diverse stakeholders
• The ability to interpret data to understand audience behaviour and needs and tailor the communications approach accordingly
• The ability to lead and coach others to communicate effectively in public forum
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills
• Proven planning and organisational management skills
• Tertiary qualification, preferably in Communications and Marketing or related discipline.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand
• Credit check required (yes/no)
• Required to drive (yes/no)
• Police vetting (yes/no)

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Strategic Leadership and Direction

• Actively works with and supports the General Manager, Communications, Design and Ministerial Services and the leadership team to champion and promote the vision, strategy and operating model for the Branch to support achievement of the Ministry’s strategic objectives.
• Develops a deep understanding of the Ministry and the Business Group business and strategic objectives
• Contributes to the development of the Ministry and Business Groups’ strategic planning processes providing leadership and input on how communications can support delivery of business outcomes and achievement of strategic objectives
• Provides, strategic communication advice to the Deputy Chief Executive and Leadership Team of Business Group
• Ensure that the Business Group’s communications strategies are aligned to and support the achievement of broader Ministry communications strategy.
• Develop and facilitate an understanding of connections between Business Groups to maximise opportunities for a joined-up approach to communications across the Ministry.
• Works collaboratively with other Communications Managers to ensure organisational coherence across communications activities for the Ministry
• Monitor, measure and report on effectiveness of communications performance at the Branch/Business Group and Ministry level using data and insights and contribute to wider Communications performance assessment
• Leads, defines, and scopes large communications projects.

Personal Leadership

Provide leadership that engages and motivates others to succeed and develop, and proactively share experience, knowledge and ideas

• Models exemplary management and leadership behaviours, State sector ethics and values
• Creates a sense of vision, engages and motivates people to participate, and makes things happen.
• Fosters an open, collaborative environment that encourages quality, innovation, ongoing learning and knowledge sharing.

Collective Leadership

Work collaboratively with other members of the Communications, Design and Ministerial Leadership Team and MBIE to support achievement of MBIE

• Participates collaboratively as a member of the Communications, Design and Ministerial Leadership Team, taking a whole of Branch and whole of Ministry approach in providing leadership to the wider communications team.
• Promotes and champions a joined-up approach to the delivery of shared services.
• Proactively contributes and shapes the development, implementation and achievement of the Branch’s strategic objectives, priorities and business plans.
• Contributes beyond core functional area to enhance overall effectiveness of the communications and ministerial services. Ensures consistency and alignment between different teams in MBIE and promotes solution seeking whether there are legitimate differences.
• Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk.

Team Management

Build and maintain a high-performing team that is capable of delivering innovative advice, products and services to support MBIE’s strategic direction

• Manage the development and delivery of an integrated and measurable communications strategy and plan for the Ministry across internal and external audiences
• Monitors, measures and reports regularly on the effectiveness of communications performance against strategies and plans using data and insights and contribute to a wider assessment of Branch performance
• Manages expenditure and resources in line with approved guidelines, budget, deadlines and reporting requirements, with a focus on driving cost effectiveness in the Ministry.
• Builds continuous review and improvement throughout all elements of how the Strategic Customer Engagement team works.
• Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk.
• Coaches and develops team to meet the needs of MBIE now and in the future.

Wellbeing, health & safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
• Ensures own and others safety at all times
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Manager Communications position reports into the General Manager within the Communications, Design and Ministerial Services branch. The branch sits within the Strategy and Assurance group.

More information about MBIE's structure

Matatautanga – Competencies (Leadership Success Profile)

The Leadership Success Profile (LSP) is a leadership capability framework, developed by the New Zealand public sector for the New Zealand public sector. It creates a common language for leadership and establishes what great leadership looks like. You can look at the twelve underpinning capabilities and four leadership characters here: Leadership Success Profile | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(external link)

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission