Job Description

Senior Advisor, International Engagement-SSEA

Type: Fixed Term - 24 months

Location: Wellington

Applications Close: 5pm Monday 1 June

Here is your chance to utilise your engagement and relationship building skills in this operational diplomacy role.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

This position sits in the International Engagement Unit / Whakawhitiwhiti Ao Whānui, which is responsible for coordinating NEMA’s international relationships and engagements; promoting international cooperation and coordination; enhancing disaster readiness and response; and tracking and reporting on NEMA’s international activities

The purpose of the Senior Advisor, International Engagement-SSEA is to:

• Support and provide strategic advice and implementation of the “Lifting Emergency Management in SSEA and New Zealand,” a MFAT-funded Growth Fund project, working with others to deliver high quality outcomes.
• Work alongside partner countries to deliver ongoing advice, strategic and technical advice to support the memorandums of cooperation and develop the work programmes to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships.
• Design and deliver a high-quality, multi-national exercise to test interoperability, decision-making, logistics and information sharing among SSEA partners and New Zealand.

As NEMA is an operational agency, there may be a requirement to respond to emergency activations in the event of a national emergency response. This may include potentially long hours and challenging working conditions, e.g. an emergency could occur at any time of the day or night and may require working shifts and/or working weekends NEMA provides thorough training prior to you being required to assist in a response. NEMA will do all in its power to support staff in meeting their work and family responsibilities during an emergency. The welfare and wellbeing of our staff is of utmost importance.

Due to the nature of our role in Emergency Management, NEMA has a very dynamic work environment and as a small agency, staff are often required to pivot and change focus on their work at short notice. Attributes of adaptability, agility, resilience and curiosity are all required on a daily basis, in and out of times of emergency response.

Qualifications/Experience / Ngā Tohu/Wheako

Essential:

• Demonstrated Senior Advisor experience (typically 5+ years) leading and delivering complex programmes or initiatives involving international engagement, partnership management, and accountability for outcomes.
• Proven ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgement while managing delivery across multiple workstreams, stakeholders, and competing priorities.
• Strong experience building, sustaining, and leveraging trusted relationships with senior domestic and international stakeholders to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Established capability in providing high‑quality strategic, policy, and operational advice to senior leaders, including under time pressure and in politically sensitive contexts.
• High level of political acumen, with a strong understanding of government priorities, machinery‑of‑government processes, and public‑sector accountability requirements.
• Experience working in or with South or Southeast Asia, preferably in disaster or emergency management, supported by a relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent professional experience

Desirable:

• Demonstrated understanding of emergency management systems, frameworks, and coordination arrangements, particularly in international or regional contexts.
• Experience working with MFAT or donor‑funded programmes, including budget management, reporting, and compliance obligations.
• Experience designing, coordinating, or delivering exercises, simulations, or other complex multi‑agency or multi‑national activities.
• Proven ability to influence across government or organisational boundaries without formal authority.
• Experience representing an organisation in senior‑level, cross‑agency, or international forums.

Ko wai mātou | About us

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system as a whole, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery.

NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives.

We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day to day work, values and practices.

Ta matou e tuku | What we offer

We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence is recognised and where staff are encouraged to develop their own talents and potential. We welcome diversity, in all its forms and we believe it is a strength.

NEMA values staff health, safety and wellbeing, and a positive work life balance is encouraged.

The indicative BASE salary range for this role is $108,018 – $117,951.

NEMA offers other benefits such as Department leave, Wellbeing allowance, Vision allowances and more.

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