Position Statement

Position:Senior Communications Adviser, Education Review Office

Reports to:Manager Communications

Location:National Office

Date:May 2016

Education Review Office

The purpose of the Education Review Office (ERO) is to provide high quality evaluation that contributes to education of the highest quality for all young New Zealanders.

ERO is responsible for supporting and promoting improvement in the quality of education by providing regular, independent, high quality evaluation reports on the quality of education in all schools and early childhood education services in New Zealand. The work of ERO contributes to a shared outcomes framework across the education sector.

ERO's key objective is to inform decisions and choices made by parents, educators, managers and others, at the individual school and early childhood level, and at the national level by government policy makers.

Group Context

The Senior Communications Adviseris part of the Communications Team, a small team within the Corporate Services Group based in ERO’s National Office.

Position Purpose

The Communications team is responsible for the development and implementation of ERO’s communication strategies, and the management of internal and external communication activities for ERO. The Communications Team supports the organisation in all communication activities and through its work reinforces ERO’s communication principles:

  • We find out what our audiences need and want.
  • Our information is trusted, clear, consistent, and adds to existing knowledge.
  • Information is transformed so that teachers can readily change practice.
  • We use our information and data to persuade for improved results.
  • We use channels that will be most effective in communicating with different audiences.
  • We measure the effectiveness and impacts of our communications.

TheSenior Communications Adviserassists the Manager Communications in:

  • positively promoting the identity and the image of ERO with internal and external audiences
  • actively promoting ERO’s information resources to external audiences
  • managing relationships among people both inside and outside the organisation
  • promoting accessibility, quality and consistency of information throughout ERO
  • facilitating the administrative and support work of the Communications Team.

Nature and Scope

TheSenior Communications Adviserassists the Manager Communications in delivering agreed communications strategies relating to publication of information, and key results as agreed annually.

Working Relationships

Internal

  • Chief Executive and members of the Executive Leadership Team
  • Manager Communications
  • Managers and staff in Corporate Services
  • Managers and staff in ERO’s regional offices

External

  • Minister’s offices and their staff, including media staff
  • Education sector agencies and organisations and their communications staff
  • Other Government agencies and their communications/ media staff as required
  • Media organisations, in particular, education journalists/ reporters

Key Accountabilities

The Senior Communications Adviser is responsible for:

  • Providing timely, relevant and practical communications advice to ERO managers and staff
  • Identifying issues that present communication risks or opportunities, designing and implementing mitigation strategies
  • Developing, delivering, monitoring and reviewing communications plans
  • Ensuring consistency in the look and feel, production and delivery of oral, written and presentation material
  • Ensuring ERO’s reputation is maintained through effective management of risk and opportunities
  • Ensuring that all communications plans, projects and initiatives are aligned with ERO’s overall communication strategy

You will be expected to: / Key accountabilities / Key deliverables
Provide high quality communications advice and support to ERO / Develop, deliver, monitor and review communications plans
Build strong collaborative relationships across the business and project groups to foster effective communications planning and support
Maintain an effective working relationship with the Minister’s office to assist with any communications requirements including risk and issue management / Communications plans developed and implemented that support the business and deliver on stated goals
Risk and issues are identified and ERO’s reputation is managed effectively
Audiences are informed and engaged
Provide key messages and talking points for senior ERO staff, the Minister and other key stakeholders / Relevant, timely and useful information is provided and used
Support the Manager Communications to maintain and develop ERO’s relationship with media and other related stakeholders
Monitor and report on ERO’s media coverage
Create opportunities for ERO to gain effective media coverage / Enquiries are handled effectively in a timely manner
Media receive the information they require to meet deadlines when possible
ERO’s reputation across all media channels is managed effectively
Champion the use of plain English in communications
Champion the ERO brand and style guide in all internal and external communications / Communications are easy to understand and act on
All communications outputs are produced consistently in line with relevant guidelines
Provide communications advice and assistance to business units preparing publications or promotional material including corporate documents. / Publications are produced to the highest standard achievable
Manage the final production of publications and manage online content. / Reports and associated products are easy to find, easy to understand and easy to use.
Relationship management / Develop and implement plans to maintain effective working relationships with key external and internal stakeholders
Contribute actively to the Communications Team.
Maintain a sense of professionalism, ethics, maintain confidentiality and privacy, and abide by our Code of Conduct. / You communicate effectively with your peers and manager
You support and lead others as part of a high performing team.

Knowledge, experience and skills required

  • Relevant degree in journalism, communications or public relations or equivalent experience
  • Advanced communication and interpersonal skills
  • Sound knowledge of communication tools, techniques and channels
  • Comprehensive understanding of publications processes and management
  • Good skills in information technology and web publishing using a content management system
  • Ability to work independently and to deadlines
  • Excellent writing and editing skills

Expected behaviours for this position

Ability to connect with people

  • Understands and predicts how groups work, behave and respond
  • Minimises risk, engages people, promotes continuous improvement

Is a team player

  • Takes whole of organisation approach, collaborating with peers and encouraging others to work together
  • Known for grace under pressure and candid style that promotes open exchanges
  • Handles tough questions, thinks on their feet and does not let own interests get in the way

Deals with ambiguity

  • Flexible and responsive in unpredictable conditions
  • Others look to them to quickly assess the situation and provide clear direction and vision

Self-management

  • Acts with integrity, is self-aware and has energy and drive
  • Innovative management style, learns on the fly
  • Committed to self-development

Equal Employment Opportunities

The Education Review Office is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunities. Employees of the Education Review Office are required to have an understanding and commitment to the principles of EEO as stated in the State Sector Act 1988.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi)

The Education Review Office recognises its responsibility to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi which affirms and advances the principles of partnership between tangata whenua and tauiwi.

Good Employer

The Education Review Office is committed to the principles of being a 'Good Employer' as stated in the State Sector Act 1988.

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ERO Position Statement: Publications Advisor, July 2014