Job Description

Senior Advisor Deployable Capabilities

Type: Fixed Term until 30 June 2027

Location: Wellington

Are you ready to step into a role where your work directly supports New Zealand’s emergency readiness and response? Join NEMA and support the deployable capability that responds when it matters most.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

In this role you will play a key role in building, maintaining, and coordinating NEMA’s deployable capability, including the Emergency Management Assistance Team (EMAT), New Zealand Response Teams (NZRT), and NEMA deployable staff. You will lead and deliver projects that strengthen emergency response capability across New Zealand, maintain deployment systems and processes (including training, exercises, and equipment), support domestic deployments, and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders across the emergency management sector.

This position sits in the National Operations Unit which leads NEMA’s operational responsibilities, and helps steward the wider emergency management system, in order to have appropriate operational systems, arrangements, facilities and infrastructure ready for and able to respond effectively to emergencies.

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.

Your response role will be in the Operations function.

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.

Ko wai koe | About you

We are looking for a candidate with the following attributes:

• Resilience, agility and curiosity
• Able to deliver high quality work output under pressure including short time frames
• Flexible and adaptive to complex, changing environments
• Uses initiative, able to foresee risks and issues, solve problems and manage own workload with little supervision.
• Ability to proactively build and leverage collaborative stakeholder relationships
• Excellent communication skills.

Huanga Whaiaro | Key requirements

• Can lead simple-to-complex projects from commissioning through to delivery.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, including influencing without authority
• Experience using relevant frameworks and analytical tools to analyse issues and develop advice.
• Applies the highest standards of personal conduct, honesty and integrity
• Ability to develop and maintain operational systems and processes. Possesses sound technical acumen.
• Willing and able to support response on short notice including after hours and weekend

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.

Whakaritenga Haumaru | Security Requirements

Due to the security requirements of this role, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident.

Me pehea te tono | How to apply

Please select 'Apply' to download a position description or apply. If you have any questions, email NEMAtalent@nema.govt.nz
We do not accept unsolicited approaches from agencies or 3rd parties.

To review the full job description, please click here

Applications close 5pm 14 June 2026.