Senior Brand Adviser – Māori

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, Te Ao Māori knowledge, and storytelling expertise to help shape how the University connects with Māori audiences.

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

This is a senior marketing role for someone who knows their craft, understands what makes great marketing, and values connecting with their audience. You’ll bring strong experience across brand, campaigns, audience engagement and activation, combined with genuine depth and confidence in Te Ao Māori.

You’ll use your marketing expertise and understanding of Māori audiences to shape ideas, campaigns and experiences that are relevant, meaningful and culturally grounded. You’ll bring a strong understanding of what Māori audiences need, the ability to see the bigger picture and the confidence to turn insight into marketing that feels authentic and connects.

Relationships will be central to the role. You’ll build and maintain trusted connections with Māori organisations, communities and stakeholders, and be confident representing the University in Māori spaces, including hui and face-to-face engagement. You’ll also bring an understanding of te reo Māori and a strong understanding of Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, providing cultural context and specialist advice across marketing, brand, content and audience engagement.

You’ll help strengthen how the University connects with tauira Māori, Māori staff and wider Māori communities, recognising the importance of belonging, identity and relationships across the University. The University’s Kawea Ake strategy provides important strategic context for this work, supporting the integration of Māori knowledge, values and ways of working across the institution.

Working across the University, you’ll partner with colleagues in Marketing and Recruitment, the PVC Māori Office, faculties, Communications, the Kaiarataki deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Māori, and wider Strategic Engagement to strengthen how we connect with tauira Māori and Māori communities.

What you’ll be doing

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

You will:

• Develop and deliver marketing activity that connects with Māori audiences.
• Bring Māori audience insight and Te Ao Māori knowledge into campaigns and brand activity.
• Shape ideas, messaging and experiences that are relevant, meaningful and culturally grounded.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Māori communities and stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice on Māori audiences, brand, culture and engagement.
• Bring cultural context and an understanding of te reo Māori to marketing and brand conversations.
• Work across teams to bring Māori campaigns, events and activations to life.
• Review Māori-focused content, ensuring it is culturally authentic and audience relevant.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen our Māori brand presence and engagement.
• Connect Māori audience insight, brand, recruitment and wider University priorities.
• Take ownership of your portfolio and confidently manage competing priorities.

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 understands that meaningful engagement starts with knowing your audience, building relationships and earning trust. You recognise the importance of connecting authentically with Māori communities and bringing Māori perspectives into the way an organisation communicates and engages.

You’ll bring:

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in marketing, brand, campaigns, audience engagement or a related field.
• Strong experience developing and delivering marketing campaigns, brand activity, activations, events and audience engagement initiatives.
• A strong understanding of Māori audiences and communities, with established relationships and connections with iwi and Māori organisations.
• Confidence engaging face-to-face with Māori communities and stakeholders, including attending hui and representing an organisation in Māori settings.
• Strong knowledge of Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with confidence applying this knowledge in a professional marketing environment.
• An understanding of te reo Māori, including confidence with pronunciation and written usage, and the ability to bring cultural context and Māori perspectives into marketing advice.
• Strong relationship-building, influencing and communication skills, with the confidence to provide specialist advice and challenge thinking when needed.
• The ability to see the bigger picture, connect Māori audience insight with brand, recruitment and wider University priorities, and manage your portfolio confidently within a complex organisation.

Experience in tertiary education, the public sector or another large and complex organisation would be valuable, but we’re interested in the marketing expertise, Māori relationships, cultural knowledge and perspective you can bring.

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 14th 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