Senior Brand Adviser - Pacific

The posting

Company Description

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading University. With over 6,000 academic and professional staff supporting over 46,000 students, we are one of NZ’s largest employers. We have six academic faculties and 13 service divisions creating a diverse, dynamic and complex organisational culture that demands excellence.

The University of Auckland creates globally transformative impacts through our distinctive strengths in world-leading research, scholarship, teaching, and collaborative partnerships, inspired by our unique position in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific.

Our mission and values place a strong emphasis on our student body and scholarly community, and we work with both the community and enterprise to advance the well-being of the people of Auckland and New Zealand, with a clear commitment to sustainability.

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

Bring your marketing expertise, Pacific audience insight and creativity to a role where you can shape how the University connects with Pacific communities.

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Brand Adviser – Pacific to help shape how Waipapa Taumata Rau connects with Pacific audiences.

This is a marketing role for someone who knows their craft and understands what makes great marketing work. You’ll bring strong experience across brand, campaigns, audience engagement and activation, combined with a genuine understanding of Pacific communities and culture.

You’ll use your marketing expertise and Pacific insight to shape ideas, campaigns and experiences that are relevant, engaging and culturally grounded. You’ll be someone who can look at the bigger picture, understand what our audiences need and turn that insight into marketing that connects.

Relationship building will be an important part of the role. You’ll develop and maintain strong connections with Pacific communities, organisations, partners and stakeholders, using those relationships to strengthen our understanding and engagement.

You’ll work across the University, partnering with colleagues in Marketing and Recruitment, Communications and Engagement and the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific. We’re looking for someone who is confident working independently, comfortable providing specialist advice and able to influence and collaborate across a large and complex organisation.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll help shape Pacific-focused marketing and brand activity across the University, from campaigns and activations through to events and audience engagement.

• Develop and deliver marketing activity that connects with Pacific audiences.
• Bring Pacific insight into campaigns, messaging and experiences.
• Shape ideas and activations that are relevant, engaging and culturally authentic.
• Build strong relationships with Pacific communities, organisations and stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice on Pacific audiences, marketing and brand.
• Work across teams to bring campaigns, events and activations to life.
• Review Pacific-focused content, ensuring it is relevant and culturally responsive.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen our Pacific brand presence and engagement.
• Connect audience insight, brand, recruitment and wider University priorities.
• Take ownership of your portfolio and confidently manage competing priorities, contributing to Ala o le Moana Pacific Strategy. - https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/about-the-university/the-university/official-publications/ala-o-le-moana.html
• Support the University's Pacific student and community aspirations
• Engage Pacific students, staff, alumni and communities to inform and co-design marketing approaches, campaigns and experiences.
• Strengthen the University’s Pacific brand and reputation through authentic representation of Pacific people, communities, cultures, languages and stories.

This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week), permanent opportunity.

The full salary range is $87,000 to $118,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience (Band G).

We have a structured salary framework with three zones: developing (those developing into the role), fully effective (target), and contributing beyond what is expected of the role (upper). Appointments are typically made within the target range of $93,201 – $107,500 per annum, depending on skills, experience, and internal equity.

We welcome conversations about your expectations and what matters to you in your overall package. Any offer will be made within the advertised range and guided by fairness, consistency and our commitment to pay equity.

For more detailed information about the role and requirements, please refer to the Position Description.

He kōrero mōu | About you

You’re an experienced marketer who knows that great marketing starts with really understanding your audience.

You’ll bring strong marketing and brand experience, along with a genuine understanding of Pacific communities and culture. You’ll be confident using your expertise to shape campaigns, ideas and experiences that feel relevant and authentic, and comfortable building relationships and bringing people together to make things happen.

You’ll bring:

• minimum 6 years’ experience in marketing, brand, campaigns or audience engagement.
• Strong experience developing and delivering marketing campaigns, activations and events.
• A strong understanding of Pacific audiences, communities and culture.
• Experience building and maintaining genuine relationships with Pacific communities, organisations and stakeholders.
• The ability to turn audience insight into strong ideas, messaging and experiences.
• Strong knowledge of brand, marketing strategy, audience insight and activation.
• Confidence providing specialist marketing advice and influencing stakeholders.
• Strong cultural judgement and a commitment to authentic Pacific representation.
• The ability to see the bigger picture and connect the dots.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and influencing skills.
• The ability to work autonomously, manage priorities and take ownership.
• Demonstrated ability to work within Pacific cultural protocols and ways of engaging, including an understanding of reciprocal relationship-building.

We’d particularly value someone who already has strong connections across Pacific communities and organisations, and who is confident building relationships face-to-face and engaging in community settings.

Pacific language capability, including confidence with pronunciation and written usage, would also be welcomed.

You’ll be part of a team that is committed to creating stronger connections with Pacific communities and supporting Pacific student aspirations and participation at the University.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

Our scale creates opportunities that few organisations can offer. From research and innovation to education, reputation and community engagement, you’ll work across a diverse range of communications challenges while contributing to initiatives that have real and lasting impact for staff, students, our communities and the world.

Beyond the work itself, you’ll be joining a vibrant and inclusive community. From staff networks and cultural communities to social clubs, volunteering opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and campus events, there are countless ways to connect, contribute and build meaningful relationships across the University.

We also offer:

• A commitment to work/life balance with a 37.5-hour working week, flexible hours and hybrid/remote working patterns.
• A competitive remuneration package with up to 6.75% super, annual salary increase with performance-based multiplier.
• Time to recharge and disconnect with 5 weeks’ annual leave and an additional leave buy/sell scheme.
• Support for parents and carers with subsidised on-site childcare (including Kōhanga Reo), gender-neutral parental leave up to 9 weeks’ full pay, and on-site parenting and feeding spaces.
• A commitment to the wellbeing of our people with confidential access to a range of EAP services, including mental health counselling, financial guidance, neurodiversity coaching and rongoā services, a world-class on-site fitness centre, access to student specialists across our supervised training clinics, and discounted health insurance.
• The opportunity to grow with access to an extensive programme of professional, leadership and cultural development, including digital capability coaching, specialised leadership development programmes, and Te Ao and Te Reo Māori learning programmes for staff.
• The opportunity to build your career with one of New Zealand’s most diverse and complex organisations.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Please submit an application online by the closing date of 11th November 2026. Please include your cover letter and CV, highlighting your interest in the role, your capabilities, and relevant experience.

Please reach out to Sharon Kishore (Recruitment Consultant) via [email protected] with any questions.

Reasonable accommodations – We are committed to building a more equitable and inclusive workforce and workplace, so we encourage applicants to reach out to discuss any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process, including alternative ways to submit applications.

Whānau and support people – Should you be invited to an interview for this role, you are welcome to have a support person, or whānau member accompany you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you throughout the recruitment process.

Additional Information

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz