Manager - Media

New Zealand Police – Porirua, North Island 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 ‘Our Business’ and achieve long-term change. Based at Police National Headquarters – Wellington Grade 22 Police Employee Permanent/ Full Time Nationally Advertised Vacancy JR 6007694 Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face Mō te tūnga | About the role As Manager – Media, you will lead New Zealand Police’s national media function, overseeing high-performing teams in Auckland and Wellington that deliver media relations, strategic communications, digital and social media services across the organisation. Operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, you will ensure the delivery of trusted, timely and effective communications that support operational policing, organisational priorities and public confidence in New Zealand Police. Reporting within the Media and Communications Group, you will be responsible for managing Police’s media profile, providing strategic advice on high-profile and sensitive issues, and ensuring consistent, professional engagement with media and stakeholders nationwide. You will work closely with the Commissioner, Executive Team and senior leaders, providing expert counsel, media support and communications leadership during both routine operations and critical incidents. This role combines strategic leadership with operational oversight. You will build and maintain team capability, drive service excellence, manage competing priorities, and ensure communications activities are aligned to organisational objectives. You will also play a critical role in strengthening trust and confidence in New Zealand Police by maximising opportunities to tell positive stories, managing reputational risk, and supporting effective communication with our people, partners and communities. As a key leadership position, you will be required to act as the Public Information Manager within the National Crisis Management Centre during all-of-government responses to major incidents, emergencies and counter-terrorism events, leading public information strategies when they matter most. This is a unique opportunity to lead a nationally significant function at the forefront of public communication, helping shape how New Zealand Police engages with the media, informs communities, and maintains public trust and confidence. Key Accountabilities: Lead the delivery of national media and communications services Provide strategic media counsel across the organisation Strengthen team capability and performance Manage reputational opportunities and risks 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: Communicate organisation decisions with clarity Balance multiple operational priorities, expectations, and competing demands effectively Have experience to collaborate with and influence key strategic partners to achieve better outcomes Know how to monitor and integrate risk into decision making Understands and acts consistently with applicable legislation and government policies Bachelors degree or Post Graduate (preferred) qualification in relevant field such as Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations Extensive demonstratable experience including experience in leadership roles managing managers or senior advisors Experience leading multi-disciplinary or regionally dispersed items Significant experience handling high risk, reputationally sensitive issues, and major incidents under intense public and media scrutiny This role is based in the Wellington area. Regional travel is required. This role is Leading Leaders level. You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/pd/2026-07/Manager%20-%20Media.pdf To be eligible for this role, you must obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET national security clearance. The minimum criteria for this level of national security clearance is: NZ Citizen who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or: A Permanent Resident who has resided continuously in NZ for the last 10 years, or A citizen of or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last 10 years : Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, or United States of America, and has a background that can be verified by the NZSIS. Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool 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 NZ 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. This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $153,652 and $170,724 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 5:00 pm on Monday 3rd August. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the month of September. If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact ***************@police.govt.nz #J-18808-Ljbffr