Strategic Communications

Transcription

1 Strategic Communications Manager Job description Job title Location Group Business unit / Team Grade and salary range Reports to Strategic Communications Manager Wellington Organisation Direction Strategic Communications Manager Deputy Government Statistician, Organisation Direction Welcome to Statistics New Zealand Who we are Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa is the country s main provider of official statistics. We also lead the Official Statistics System (OSS), which coordinates all statistics produced by government departments. Our aim is to have an informed society using official statistics. The impact of our work and activities is that New Zealand gets the statistical information it needs to grow and prosper. Official statistics are used by government, local authorities, businesses, community groups, and individuals. They are useful for: keeping track of and understanding the state and progress of New Zealand steering the economy to improve the prosperity, security, and opportunities of New Zealanders informing debate and making decisions. Statistics NZ is a department of the New Zealand Public Service. Our duties and responsibilities are set out in the Statistics Act Statistics 2020 Te Kāpehu Whetü Statistics 2020 Te Kāpehu Whetü is the organisation s programme of change for the 10 years to It drives what we do and how we do it. It takes into account our internal environment (eg aging IT systems, current culture), and external factors like ensuring that we produce relevant future statistics and meet customer needs efficiently. The Māori name of the programme literally translates to star compass. This signifies the sophisticated navigation system necessary to get us to where we want to go. Our roles in New Zealand s Official Statistics System As leader of the OSS we: ensure that New Zealand gets the information it needs

2 advise the government on the policies, priorities, costs, and benefits of statistical activities coordinate statistical activities across government encourage other government departments to share ownership of the OSS and to re-use data define the objectives that different departments will focus on together ensure that official statistics provide value for money. As the country s main provider of official statistics we: report on trends, patterns, and changes to New Zealand s population, economy, society, culture, and environment ensure our statistics are relevant for our customers continually improve what we do and how we do it set an example for other government departments to follow ensure complete confidentiality for all our data maintain the highest level of credibility and integrity in our statistics. Our core values are: leading connecting communicating statistical excellence integrity confidentiality and data security. Our commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi Statistics NZ works to ensure that the statistical needs of Māori are identified and progressively met. This complies with the principles for government action on the Treaty of Waitangi.

3 Summary of your role As the Strategic Communications Manager you will be accountable for leading the organisation's internal and external communications through your work and management of the communications team. You will be tasked with maximising the contribution organisational communications can make to achieving an informed society using official statistics. Effective communication is critical to the success of the medium-term change programme underway in Statistics New Zealand. Your broad role as a Strategic Communications Manager will be to: ensure the development, monitoring and measurement of the required communication strategies, frameworks and policies increase the communications capability and performance of the organisation, particularly internal and external spokespeople ensure the organisation gets the strategic and tactical communications advice and support required around key initiatives oversee communication and engagement disciplines of change, internal, sponsorship, media and issues, stakeholder and external communications, also Press Secretary liaison build the relationships required for success in the role including with international counterparts, the Minister's office, other government communicators and the media manage the communications team (currently six staff including two fixed-term contractors). You will be accountable for the work you do, and contribute positively to the values and outcomes outlined in our strategic plans, including Statistics 2020 Te Kāpehu Whetū, and our Statement of Intent. You will report to the Deputy Government Statistician Organisation Direction. The Organisation Direction Group provides direction, support and advice to Statistics New Zealand on strategy performance and leadership of Statistics New Zealand and the Official Statistics System.

4 Detailed description of your role You will be expected to: To achieve this you will need to: As a result, we will see you: Lead people and build both communications and leadership capability build a productive culture in the communications team aligned with the values and desired Statistics New Zealand culture champion these values and behaviours in your everyday work across the organisation put work plans in place and our lead and manage the communications team to build their capability and support higher organisational communications performance monitored hold regular performance and learning and development conversations with team members Provide high quality strategic communications advice provide coaching and support to build performance and capability of individuals so that teams can perform cohesively to deliver business unit objectives manage career development for staff clarify roles and tasks with direct reports and call people to account for their performance and behaviour maintain a clear understanding of all government communications direction and apply this knowledge and thinking to Stats NZ. develop, implement and measure communication and engagement strategies, to support achievement of Statistics New Zealand's goals provide strategic communications and external engagement leadership, advice and support to the Chief Executive, managers and other internal and external spokespeople ensure that key initiatives and projects include sufficient communications perspective lead and promote the design and implementation of continuous improvement to systems, technology, processes, and procedures to transform delivery of services. coach and support team members to grow both their communication and leadership skills oversee the provision of advice and training to support internal and external spokespeople across the organisation. having the frameworks in place to guide organisational communication activity Identifying external and internal activity that either provides a communication or engagement opportunity or risk and ensuring they are acted on providing high quality advice that demonstrates communications skills and experience developing the relationships and knowledge of the business to enable tailored advice to be provided you and your team adapting to changes and continually working to improve the service you deliver. Contribute to the work of the Group and organisationwide management team contribute to the direction of the group, support for your management peers and the delivery of the group work plan take an active leadership role across the group advise on, debate and then action managerial decisions to support the achievement of whole of organisation outcomes Identify issues or risks, and develop and implement mitigation strategies; or attending and contributing to group and third tier management meetings acting as part of the group management and organisation-wide management teams, as well as the manager of the communications team risk are identified and mitigated.

5 escalate where appropriate. Build connections and work collaboratively Communicate effectively work collaboratively across the organisation to achieve successful outcomes build relationships with counterparts in other countries' statistical agencies in order to share and implement international best practice meet with other teams to build good understanding across Statistics NZ of communications develop constructive working relationships with external stakeholders in order to be able to influence their work and incorporate their perspectives in Statistics New Zealand's work. communicate ideas and information to different audiences in plain English communicate clearly and concisely in all written and oral communications share information and knowledge with others in a proactive, timely way that fits the purpose seek peer review of written work. Health and Safety ensure Statistics New Zealand's Health & Safety practices and policies are understood and managed demonstrate a commitment to meeting and exceeding health & safety requirements within the workplace to ensure ACC WSMP standards are met. ensure your engagement with others is open, friendly, and responsive build mutually beneficial internal and external relationships including internal and external feedback into the work of your team and the advice you provide others participate in the government communication networks actively participate in Better Public Services communication initiatives across government as well as include Better Public Services information in internal communications build the relationships required for success in the role including with international counterparts, the Minister's office, other government communicators and the media. be understood by all internal and external customers in both written and oral communication write clearly and concisely, and follow the Statistics New Zealand plain English standard communicate with peers, subject matter project manager, and manager regularly. provide and promote a safe working environment

6 Required qualities for your role Quality As a Manager Strategic communications you will need to: Decision quality make sound decisions based on analysis, wisdom, experience and judgement... Perspective contextualise issues appropriately and is able to discuss and speculate about possible future scenarios. Business accumen has a good understanding of developments in, and influences upon, the environment in which the organisation operates. Strategic agility look ahead, makes credible predictions of likely future scenarios, and develops strategies and plans that address those scenarios Managing vision and inspires and motivates people by talking positively and in an accessible way about the purpose organisation's purpose and vision for the future. Managing and achieves results by clearly assigning tasks and responsibilities, setting specific and measuring work measurable objectives, monitoring progress, reviewing outputs and evaluating outcomes. Drive for results Consistently delivers results beyond expectations. Intellectual be intellectually agile and capable of dealing with the concepts and complexities inherent horsepower in the position. Managerial courage deals unequivocally with difficult situations and provides positive and negative feedback so that people are clear about where they stand. Political savvy understand and effectively navigate the political environment. Command skills be seen as a leader, takes difficult issues in their stride, encourages debate and makes unpopular decisions if necessary. Confronting direct is prompt and effective in dealing with team members whose performance or behaviour is reports not meeting expectations. Motivating others be someone people like working for and who motivates people by utilising their strengths, involving and empowering them, and recognising the contributions they make. Developing direct actively works to develop direct reports and others, making good use of the organisation's reports and others development policies, procedures and tools. Ethics and values always behave ethically, and demonstrates support for the organisation's values. Dealing with paradox balances conflicting demands, being focused yet flexible, strong yet compassionate. Composure be level headed and a positive role model when under pressure. Customer focus is focused on understanding the needs of customers and on delivering value to them. Dealing with is flexible and deals confidently and positively with change and uncertainty. ambiguity Required experience and qualifications Required experience and qualifications experience at a senior level in all areas of the communications discipline - internal, external, stakeholder and media have operated at a strategic level and advised and influenced senior management have demonstrated leadership of an organisation-wide communications function excellent problem solving abilities and the flexibility to tailor advice in order to advance organisational objectives have established networks within the government sector (for example government communications professionals), it's influencers and other key groups (eg media) excellent relationship building abilities

7 Our workplace: your workplace Statistics NZ endeavours to provide a working environment that encourages the development of an individual's potential and their contribution to the organisation, by offering challenges and opportunities. We value staff from diverse cultural backgrounds and staff with active interests outside work. We provide a supportive environment so that individuals can balance their working life and personal life. This is achieved through policies for work and family life, equal employment opportunities (EEO), and a healthy and safe work environment. All departmental offices are smoke-free. We are committed to developing an EEO work place. All staff are required to comply with our EEO policy. Discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, family, age, and marital status is not tolerated. 1 Copyright 1992, 1996, by Lominger Limited, Inc. a Korn Ferry Company. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. These qualities are derived from the LEADERSHIP ARCHITECT Competency Sort Cards developed and copyrighted by Robert W. Eichinger and Michael M. Lombardo for Lominger Limited, Inc. Without the prior written permission of Lominger Limited, Inc., no part of this work may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, by or to any party outside of Statistics New Zealand.