Senior Advisor, Governance and Secretariat

• Provide strategic governance support to the Authority Board, ELT, and internal committees.
• Enjoy great benefits including 4% KiwiSaver + Vision assistance contribution & health insurance.
• Full-Time, Permanent | Wellington – Asteron Office | Salary: $115,536-141,751 pa.  

By joining us, you will be part of a team where meaningful work, collaboration and innovation come together to help keep New Zealand’s skies safe and secure.

At the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, we are constantly evolving to meet the demands of a changing environment and the aviation industry.

Recent legislative changes, along with an organisational realignment, have opened exciting new opportunities across the organisation. These changes are part of a broader effort to better position our teams for the future by enabling us to be more collaborative, efficient and effective in everything we do.

As we step confidently into our role as a modern regulator, we are embracing intelligence-led, risk-based approaches that help us make a real difference for our people and the communities we serve – with a strong value-for-money ethos. We’re also committed to enabling aviation participants to support economic growth in New Zealand's aviation sector.

About the role

The Senior Advisor, Governance and Secretariat sits at the heart of the Assurance and Governance group within the Civil Aviation Authority, providing essential support to the Authority Board, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and internal governance committees. As a key member of the Governance & Secretariat team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth, consistent, and effective governance processes across the organisation.

Working closely with the Manager Governance & Secretariat, you’ll act as an intermediary across various parts of the Authority’s Leadership Management System, provide advisory support to the ELT and Committee Chairs, and maintain oversight of key risks and issues within committee work programmes.

This role also offers the opportunity to contribute to strategic initiatives, support organisational leadership, and continuously improve governance practices. It requires strong relationship-building skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of internal governance frameworks.

The starting salary for the Senior Advisor, Governance and Secretariat within Assurance and Governance group is between $115,536 and $141,751pa.  Starting salaries are to be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

What You’ll Bring

You bring a strong understanding of governance principles and thrive in evolving, fast-paced environments, ideally within or closely connected to the public or highly regulated sectors. Your experience advising senior leaders and contributing to strategic decision-making enables you to navigate high-level discussions and ensure alignment between organisational objectives and stakeholder priorities.

With the ability to interpret and connect information across multiple governance forums, you’re skilled at developing forward work programmes, supporting performance evaluation processes, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement. You combine a solutions-focused mindset with strong attention to detail, while maintaining a clear view of broader strategic risks and priorities.

Your interpersonal and relationship management skills allow you to engage confidently with both stakeholders and internally, provide trusted advice, and influence outcomes. You bring a collaborative, adaptable approach and a strong commitment to upholding the values of diversity, inclusion, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in your practice.

Your key strengths:

• Proven ability to build and manage effective relationships
• Skilled in applying governance principles within large and evolving organisational environments
• Experienced in supporting executive-level forums and facilitating informed decision-making
• Strong written and verbal communication, with a track record of producing clear, high-quality reports, briefings, and meeting papers
• Capable of interpreting detailed information into concise, actionable insights for senior leadership
• Excellent analytical thinking paired with sound professional judgement
• Good knowledge of public sector frameworks and decision-making processes
• Proficient in implementing and managing governance frameworks, tools, and systems
• Collaborative and effective when working across teams and engaging with external partners

About Us

Our Values – Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration – represent the standards of behaviour we uphold and guide how we work at the Authority. We embrace diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment where our people feel respected, safe, and valued for their unique contributions. We recognise that our people drive our success. 

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submit your CV and Cover Letter. Note: your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key skills required for this role.

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Therefore, please let us know if there is any support, we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

For more information on the role please view the position description or contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@caa.govt.nz

Applications close: Friday 25th July 2025.