He ara pukenga, he ara tauwhiro, hei whakamana mātā waka
The many pathways of knowledge, the many pathways of social work, upholding the dignity of all
Current vacancies:
Communications Advisor
Permanent
Salary: $92,000–$97,600 per year
Who are we? | Ko wai tātou
The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) | Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is a Crown entity, the social worker regulator for Aotearoa New Zealand, and lead agency for social worker workforce planning.
We protect the safety of members of the public by ensuring social workers are competent and safe to practise and are accountable for the way in which they practise.
We also enhance social workers’ professional practice and provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social worker workforce.
As the SWRB, we recognise the Crown–Māori commitment as Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners and are committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown’s relationship with Māori, and developing our Māori capability.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
Great communications are essential to trust, understanding, and connection. As Communications Advisor, you will help ensure the Social Workers Registration Board’s purpose, work, and values are clearly understood by our people, the social worker profession, and the wider public. Working within a small, busy communications and engagement team and reporting to the Engagement and Communications Implementation Manager, you will contribute across internal and external communications, digital channels, and stakeholder engagement.
This is a varied, hands-on role where you will support the development and delivery of communications strategies and campaigns, manage key digital platforms, and create clear, accessible content that brings strategy to life. You will move comfortably between planning and delivery – coordinating publications and campaigns, supporting events, protecting and promoting the SWRB brand, and providing trusted communications advice across the organisation. As your confidence grows, you will take the lead on agreed initiatives and help build communications capability.
You will work closely with colleagues across the SWRB and with partners across government and the social sector, translating complex or regulatory information into messages that are meaningful and easy to understand. Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments sit at the centre of our work, and in this role.
About you | Mōhou ake
You are a clear and thoughtful communications practitioner who enjoys working in complexity and can turn detailed, sometimes technical information into messages people can easily understand and engage with. You bring strong written and verbal communication skills and are comfortable shifting between strategy and delivery – whether that’s drafting content, managing digital channels, or providing practical communications advice to colleagues. You work well at pace, enjoy variety, and take pride in delivering quality work that supports organisational goals.
You build trust through consistency, sound judgement, and a collaborative approach. You are curious, open to learning, and comfortable asking questions when things are new or unclear. You enjoy working with a wide range of people and perspectives, and you understand the importance of clear, respectful communication in a regulatory and public sector context. You’re as comfortable supporting internal communications as you are working on external content or stakeholder-facing materials.
You bring a values-led mindset to your work and are committed to developing your understanding of te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. You approach your role with care, professionalism, and a willingness to grow – contributing positively to team culture and helping strengthen the way the organisation communicates over time.
You will have:
- A relevant qualification in communications, journalism, marketing, publishing, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience delivering internal and/or external communications, including digital content and channels management.
- Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills, with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences and purposes.
- Experience supporting or delivering communications projects, campaigns, or initiatives from planning through to delivery and evaluation.
- Confidence working across multiple priorities in a busy environment, with good organisation and attention to detail.
- An understanding of public sector, regulatory, or complex organisational environments (desirable).
- A developing understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi, with willingness to grow cultural capability and apply this in practice.
What’s in it for you? | Nōu te rourou
- Work that matters – you will contribute directly to understanding and shaping the social work workforce across Aotearoa, work that has real consequences for communities and whānau.
- A unique vantage point – the SWRB sits at the intersection of regulation, workforce intelligence, and government policy, giving you access to data, relationships, and conversations few organisations can offer.
- A values-driven culture that takes He Arapaki (our Māori Development Framework) and Te Tiriti obligations seriously.
- A collaborative environment, hybrid working.
This position is based in Wellington, and the successful candidate will be required to work from the Wellington office on a regular basis.
For more information, please contact Rebecca.courtney@swrb.govt.nz. To apply please submit your CV and cover letter via the Seek website.
Applications close 5:00pm Tuesday, 12 May.
Senior Communications and Engagement Advisor
Permanent
Salary $117,100–$124,300 per year
Ko wai tātou | Who are we?
The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) | Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is a Crown entity, the social worker regulator for Aotearoa New Zealand, and lead agency for social worker workforce planning.
We protect the safety of members of the public by ensuring social workers are competent and safe to practise and are accountable for the way in which they practise.
We also enhance social workers’ professional practice and provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social worker workforce.
As the SWRB, we recognise the Crown–Māori commitment as Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners and are committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown’s relationship with Māori, and developing our Māori capability.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
Strong communications and meaningful engagement are critical to trust, confidence, and impact. As Senior Communications and Engagement Advisor, you will provide expert, senior level advice that helps the Social Workers Registration Board navigate complexity, manage risk, and strengthen relationships with the social worker sector and wider system. This role plays an important part in shaping how the SWRB communicates, engages, and positions itself as a modern regulator and workforce planning lead.
Working within a small, dynamic communications and engagement team, and reporting to the Engagement and Communications Implementation Manager, you will lead and contribute to high impact communications and engagement across the organisation. You will develop and deliver tailored communications and engagement approaches for priority programmes, projects, and issues – moving comfortably between strategic planning and hands on delivery. You will be a trusted advisor to leaders, supporting complex and sometimes sensitive work, including reputational matters, stakeholder engagement, and public facing initiatives.
You will work closely with colleagues across SWRB, with government agencies, sector partners, and communities, including tangata whenua, to support informed, respectful, and enduring relationships. Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations sit at the centre of this role. You will apply a te ao Māori lens to communications and engagement practice, support the application of He Arapaki – the SWRB’s Māori Development Framework – and help ensure the SWRB’s communications reflect its values, responsibilities, and commitment to improved outcomes for Māori.
About you | Mōhou ake
You are a confident, experienced communications and engagement practitioner who thrives in complexity and brings sound judgement to ambiguous or high risk situations. You can move easily between strategic advice and delivery – shaping approaches, leading challenging conversations, and producing clear, credible communications when it matters most. You enjoy working across organisational boundaries and understand how strong communications and engagement support trust, confidence, and public value.
You bring senior advisory capability and build credibility through clarity, integrity, and consistency. You are comfortable advising leaders, managing reputational risk, and supporting complex or sensitive work, while also rolling up your sleeves to deliver. You value collaboration, take a solutions focused approach, and are able to hold different perspectives while remaining anchored in organisational purpose and values.
You bring a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice. You approach engagement with care and respect, apply a te ao Māori lens to your work, and actively support the use of te reo Māori and tikanga, continually building your cultural capability. You lead with empathy and professionalism, contributing positively to team culture and helping strengthen the organisation’s communications and engagement practice over time.
You will have:
- Significant experience providing senior‑level communications and engagement advice in complex, public‑facing or regulatory environments.
- A relevant tertiary qualification in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing and delivering communications and engagement strategies, plans, and initiatives, including for complex or sensitive issues.
- Strong relationship‑building skills, with experience engaging across government, sector partners, communities, and tangata whenua.
- Experience managing reputational risk, supporting senior leaders, and responding to high‑profile or cross‑organisational matters.
- A strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori, with experience embedding these into communications and engagement practice.
- Well‑developed digital and media capability, including oversight of channels and public‑facing content.
What’s in it for you? | Nōu te rourou
- Work that matters – you will contribute directly to understanding and shaping the social work workforce across Aotearoa, work that has real consequences for communities and whānau.
- A unique vantage point – the SWRB sits at the intersection of regulation, workforce intelligence, and government policy, giving you access to data, relationships, and conversations few organisations can offer.
- A values-driven culture that takes He Arapaki (our Māori Development Framework) and Te Tiriti obligations seriously.
- A collaborative environment, hybrid working.
This position is based in Wellington, and the successful candidate will be required to work from the Wellington office on a regular basis.
For more information, please contact Rebecca.Courtney@swrb.govt.nz. To apply please submit your CV and cover letter via the Seek website.
Applications close 5:00pm Tuesday, 12 May.
Senior HR Advisor, Systems and Policy
Fixed term 18 months
Salary $128,000-$136,000
Ko wai tātou | Who are we?
The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) / Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro is a Crown Entity which is Aotearoa’s social worker regulator and lead agency for social worker workforce planning.
We protect the safety of members of the public by ensuring social workers are competent and safe to practise and are accountable for the way in which they practise.
We also enhance social workers’ professional practice and provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the social work workforce.
We recognise our Crown-Māori commitment as a Te Tiriti O Waitangi partner and are committed to improving services and outcomes for Māori, strengthening the Crown’s relationship with Māori, and developing our Māori capability.
Contribute to work that matters by supporting Aotearoa’s social worker regulator and lead agency for workforce planning. At the SWRB, our work protects public safety, strengthens professional standards, and shapes insight into the social work workforce at the intersection of regulation and government policy. Guided by He Arapaki and our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, you’ll join a collaborative, values driven organisation based in central Wellington with flexible, hybrid working.
About the role | Mō te tūnga
Strong organisations rely on strong HR foundations. As Senior HR Advisor – Systems and Policy, you will play a pivotal role in lifting the HR function to a consistent, compliant, and fit for purpose level, ensuring managers and staff are well supported by clear frameworks, practical policies, and effective systems.
This is a fixed term specialist role, working within the Human Resources team and reporting to the HR Manager. You will lead and deliver core initiatives to strengthen HR foundations — including the implementation and embedding of a new HRIS, the refresh of people policies and employment documentation, and the development of clear frameworks for delegation, capability, and remuneration.
Sitting at the intersection of policy, systems, and day to day practice, you will translate HR best practice into practical tools, guidance, and processes that are easy to use and understood across the organisation. Your work will improve consistency, reduce risk, and build confidence in people management, while supporting organisational strategy and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, including the application of He Arapaki, SWRB’s Māori Development Framework.
About you | Mōhou ake
- You are a grounded, pragmatic HR professional who brings calm, clarity, and sound judgement to complex organisational environments. You are trusted for how you work as much as what you deliver.
- You exercise excellent professional judgement and are comfortable making decisions where there are competing risks, imperfect information, or high sensitivity.
- You have strong personal credibility and are able to influence leaders through clear reasoning, consistency, and integrity rather than position or authority.
- You communicate with purpose and care, adapting your style to support understanding, confidence, and good decision making at all levels.
- You take a systems view, noticing patterns, interdependencies, and unintended consequences, and adjusting your advice accordingly.
- You are disciplined and organised in your approach, able to prioritise effectively and maintain momentum across multiple streams of work.
- You are reflective and improvement focused, open to challenge, and willing to test, adjust, and refine your thinking over time.
- You actively engage with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori and ensure Treaty principles are purposefully embedded within HR policies, processes, and systems.
What we offer | Ngā painga
We’re committed to creating a supportive, flexible workplace where people can do meaningful work and thrive. In return for your contribution, we offer:
- Flexible working hours to help balance work with other commitments.
- Hybrid working, with up to two days per week working from home, subject to role requirements.
- Free gym membership, supporting your physical wellbeing.
- Access to EAP services for confidential wellbeing, counselling, and support.
- A collaborative, respectful culture where people are supported to ask questions, learn, and grow.
- A values driven organisation grounded in matatika, manaaki, mahitahi, and māia, with work that has real public impact.
At the Social Workers’ Registration Board, we value diversity and the different perspectives people bring. We support autonomy in our roles and encourage ongoing professional development, creating an inclusive and respectful workplace.
We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process. If you have any accessibility needs or require adjustments at any stage, please contact us to discuss.
This role is based in Wellington; remote working arrangements are not available.
For more information, please contact Rebecca.Courtney@swrb.govt.nz. To apply please submit your CV and cover letter via the Seek website.
Applications close 5:00pm, Wednesday 20 May.
