Position Description

Communications Advisor

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Job number:
Business area: / National Communications
Location: / Wellington
Reports to: / Account Manager
Version date: / August 2017

Organisation context

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is a Crown Entity established on 1 July 2017 under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2017. The role of our new organisation is to reduce unwanted fires, respond to structural and vegetation fires and other emergencies including motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous substance related incidents, natural disasters and support increased community resilience.

Our new, unified organisation provides a fire and emergency service that delivers for communities, and the firefighters who serve them, now and in the future.

Position context and purpose

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is comprised of five regions with around 400 stations, and 9,000 volunteer and paid firefighters spread throughout the country. As well as responding to a wide range of emergency situations, Fire and Emergency New Zealand is focussed on fire safety and prevention in NZ communities.

The National Communications Team is responsible for designing, delivering and measuring unified, consistent, relevant and meaningful communication activities on behalf of the organisation. The team provides support to all divisions of Fire and Emergency New Zealand at National and Regional level.

The purpose of the Communication Advisor role is to support Fire and Emergency New Zealand and to achieve its business objectives by providing communications advice – strategic and operational - and support to key audiences. The incumbent will be responsible for planning, delivering and measuring communications activity in conjunction with others in the communications team and in partnership with the wider organisation.

Scope of job

Financial delegations: / Nil
Staff responsibility: / Nil

Key accountabilities & deliverables

The job holder is responsible for delivering results in the following areas:

·  Connecting with and building trusted relationships with the Fire and Emergency team/s they provide communications support for, and understanding their needs, objectives and audiences.

·  Providing strategic and operational advice, in conjunction with others in the Communications team about the executable and measurable communications initiatives needed.

·  Planning, delivering and monitoring agreed communications initiatives proactively and reactively.

·  Being an active member of the Communications team, supporting others to deliver the right content, to the right people through the right channel.

·  Keep abreast of external factors which may impact on the Communications strategy/employee engagement and culture.

·  Any other duties consistent with the position as may be required from time to time by the Account Manager

Safety, Health & Wellbeing - responsibilities

·  Taking responsibility for their own safety, health and wellbeing and for their colleagues and others they work alongside, as far as they are able

·  Following policies, training and guidelines related to safety, health and wellbeing, including reporting of injury and near miss events.

Key relationships

Internal / External
·  Strategic Programme Office
·  Managers of staff including Urban and Rural Volunteers
·  Office of the Chief Executive / · 

Qualifications, attributes and experience

Suitable candidates will possess the following skills/attributes:

Essential

·  Intermediate experience across internal and/or external communications disciplines

·  Demonstrated ability to convey information and ideas clearly and accurately, in a way that meets the needs of the audience.

·  Working knowledge of communication impact measurement techniques and approaches

·  Self-starter and team player, innovative and resilient

·  Experience building close and trusting working relationships with business units and senior executives

·  Demonstrated strategic approach to problem-solving and needs identification

·  Ability to apply sound judgement and take an approach that is appropriate given the situation, policies, guidelines

·  Qualifications in Communications, Marketing or similar disciplines

Desirable

·  Agency experience

·  Sound commercial acumen