Head Of Marketing And Communications

Lead national marketing strategies that drive sport participation and wellbeing
Shape innovative, multi-year campaigns with a talented leadership team
Influence community impact through strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement

Are you a strategic leader with a commercial mindset and a passion for guiding impactful marketing and communications strategies? Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa and High Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ) are seeking a visionary Head of Marketing and Communications to provide top-level leadership, delivering on strategic goals that influence sport, active recreation, and wellbeing across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Role

Reporting to the Group Manager, Sector Engagement, Marketing and Communications, this pivotal role focuses on guiding the overall strategic direction of marketing and communications for both Sport NZ and HPSNZ. You'll lead through a team of highly experienced professionals, driving forward long-term strategies that enhance Sport NZ's impact on communities and create a lasting legacy in sport and recreation.

Your leadership will be instrumental in delivering the broader vision of Sport NZ Group, ensuring that our marketing and communications efforts play a critical role in delivering our mission of Every Body Active, In Their Way, Every Day and fostering greater wellbeing through participation in sport and recreation.

This role can be based out of either Wellington or Auckland.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Marketing Leadership: Lead the development of multi-year marketing and communications strategies for Sport NZ and HPSNZ, aligning with our overarching goals to promote sport and physical activity as key drivers of community wellbeing.

Influence through Leadership: Provide high-level guidance to a leadership team of marketing, media, communications (internal and external), and digital leaders, empowering them to deliver innovative, results-driven strategies that support both internal and external stakeholders.

Community Impact: Focus on delivering broad, community-level engagement strategies, ensuring Sport NZ's marketing campaigns and communications reach all New Zealanders through various B2B and B2C channels, helping to increase participation and grow the positive impact of sport and recreation.

Operational Leadership: Take responsibility for annual marketing & communications plans and budgets, ensuring initiatives are not only impactful but also delivered on time, in budget and with exceptional value for money.

Relationship Management: Maintain and grow key relationships across marketing agencies, media and key sector stakeholders.

Advocacy & Representation: Serve as a key voice for marketing and communications across Sport NZ and HPSNZ, using your strategic marketing and communications knowledge to advocate for the role of these functions in achieving the organisation's broader strategic vision of Everybody Active, In Their Way, Every Day.

What We're Looking For

Extensive strategic experience: 10-15 years in marketing and communications, with a proven ability to lead senior teams and shape strategies that drive significant, measurable impact.

Broad marketing and communications expertise: Strong understanding of how to deliver both short term value and long term behaviour change through a range of marketing methods, including demonstrated experience in leveraging digital channels to drive both internal and external engagement.

Proven leadership: Experience leading through leadership teams, with a focus on empowering others to execute and deliver strategic outcomes.

Stakeholder engagement: Strong experience working with senior stakeholders across commercial, government, and public sectors, including managing relationships with external agencies and suppliers.

Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti and a willingness to be part of Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa's commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Why This Role?

This is a rare opportunity to take on a leadership role with the ability to shape marketing and communications at a national level. You'll play a critical role in influencing how Sport NZ and HPSNZ connect with communities, grow participation in sport and recreation, and enhance the wellbeing of New Zealanders. If you're ready to lead, delivering through a highly skilled team and being part of an organisation committed to making a difference for New Zealanders, we want to hear from you.

Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Richard Gray-Smith at INSIDE Recruitment on *.
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