Project Coordinator

Type: Fixed Term to 25 June 2027

Location: Wellington

Applications close: 5pm 24th November

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Every review, inquiry, exercise and improvement activity relies on strong coordination behind the scenes. This role helps ensure NEMA's reviews, inquiries and continuous improvement work is well organised, effectively supported and delivered to a high standard. 

As Project Coordinator, Continuous Improvement, you will provide project, secretariat and administrative support across nationally significant reviews, inquiries and lessons management activities that help strengthen New Zealand's emergency management system. You will coordinate meetings, schedules, stakeholder engagement, reporting and project documentation, helping ensure work programmes remain organised, connected and on track to deliver outcomes.

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 Continuous Improvement subfunction.

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

You are highly organised, detail-oriented and enjoy keeping complex work programmes running smoothly. You can manage multiple priorities, build effective working relationships and maintain high standards of quality and accuracy. 

You are comfortable supporting senior leaders and project teams, coordinating meetings and workshops, tracking actions and milestones, and ensuring information is managed appropriately. You are proactive, dependable and willing to identify opportunities to improve processes and ways of working. 

You are interested in how organisations learn and improve, and enjoy bringing order to complex work involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and sensitive information.

Most importantly, you are motivated by helping teams succeed and supporting work that strengthens New Zealand's emergency management system. 

Huanga Whaiaro | Key requirements

• Experience supporting senior managers and providing coordination support to projects or programmes of work. 
• Strong secretariat, administration and organisational skills. 
• Experience coordinating meetings, workshops and stakeholder engagement activities. 
• Strong attention to detail and document management skills. 
• Ability to monitor schedules, risks, actions and deliverables. 
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills. 
• Sound judgement and ability to handle sensitive information appropriately. 
• Strong analytical skills and commitment to continuous improvement. 

It would be advantageous if you also have experience in:

• Project or programme management environments. 
• Government or public sector organisations. 
• Reviews, inquiries, assurance or evaluation activities. 
• Emergency management or another operational environment. 

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

This is an opportunity to contribute to nationally significant reviews, inquiries and continuous improvement initiatives that shape learning across New Zealand's emergency management system.

You will work alongside experienced practitioners and senior leaders, gaining exposure to reviews, inquiries, evaluation, assurance and continuous improvement work. The role offers an excellent development opportunity for someone looking to broaden their experience in project delivery, organisational improvement and the emergency management sector.

You'll play a key role in helping complex programmes of work run effectively, while developing valuable skills and experience that can support future career progression.

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 $74,000 - $86,000.

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 us at [email protected]

To view the full job description please click here.

We do not accept unsolicited approaches from agencies or 3rd parties.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is the Government lead for emergency management. We help build a safe and resilient Aotearoa New Zealand by empowering communities before, during and after emergencies.

Emergencies can have consequences for people, communities, property, infrastructure, the economy and the environment. NEMA works with central and local government, communities, iwi, and business to make sure responses to and recoveries from emergencies are effective and integrated.

Depending on the emergency, NEMA leads or supports the response and recovery.

NEMA’s key functions are steward, operator and assurer of the emergency management system.

As steward, we provide strategic leadership for risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery activities, and build emergency management capability and capacity.

As operator, we lead or support the response to and recovery from emergencies while also supporting the operation of the emergency management system.