Private Secretary

Pou Hēkeretari Matua | Private Secretary

Te Iho | Corporate Service

Fixed Term (12-18 months) / Fulltime

Wellington

Salary Range: $99,460 - $122,765 - Negotiable 

Ki te puāwai te ahurea, Ka ora te iwi
Culture is thriving, the people are well

• Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same?


• Are you ready to be the link between a busy Minister’s office and a high performing Ministry?


• Are you looking for some action in a fast-paced ministerial office?

We currently have an opportunity to join our team as a Private Secretary to support the Minister for Media and Communications.

You may also be required to provide cover across our other portfolios during periods of leave.  The length is flexible but likely between 12-18 months.

Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role

As Private Secretary, you will be the key liaison between the Ministry and the Minister’s office. You’ll ensure the smooth flow of ministerial business, including correspondence, parliamentary questions, briefings, and Official Information Act requests.

This is a high-trust, high-impact role that requires sound judgement, political acumen, and exceptional relationship management skills. The role is a challenging and rewarding experience.

Kōrero mōu | About you

You are a confident and experienced professional who can self-manage and thrives in a fast-paced environment. Your sound judgement, clear communication, and ability to influence make you a trusted adviser and a key point of contact between the Ministry and the Minister’s Office.

Relationship management skills will be key to success in this role. You will need to be able to work effectively with other Private Secretaries, Ministers’ staff, and senior sector and public service representatives. Good ‘political nous’ is a key attribute, to help you make judgements about who needs to know what and when, and to support the timely making of good decisions. 

You will have experience working in Government departments, or in Private Secretary roles, and you will have excellent analytical and advisory skills.  You will also be willing to roll your sleeves up to get the job done.

In general, some of the key requirements are:

• Being an effective and efficient conduit of information and advice to and from the Minister and Ministry


• Ability to exercise judgment on complex issues, knowing when to advise and when to phone a friend (or better yet, a colleague at the Ministry)


• Awareness of the politically neutral role private secretaries play in the parliamentary environment and ability to work with political staff to get answers.


• Knowledge of parliamentary processes and public service ways of working


• Efficient, organised and able to prioritise what a Minister really needs to see and what can wait


• Ability to hold a NZ Government National Security Clearance.

Please download and save a copy of the full Position Description (MCH Website)
 

To learn more about Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture & Heritage please explore our Corporate Website (mch.govt.nz)

Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process so please highlight how your experience relates to the competencies listed in the position description. 

Me pēhea te tono | How to apply  

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the online process on our
Careers Website. 

Applications close 5pm Thursday 25 September 2025. 

For any enquiries about this position contact [email protected]  

Āheinga | Eligibility 
If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you must hold current eligibility to work in New Zealand and for Manatū Taonga. Please refer to the New Zealand Immigration Service for further information