Senior Advisor - Governance
At REANNZ, you will be part of a small, passionate team making a big impact on New Zealand’s science and innovation ecosystem.
Permanent Position - Location: Wellington
About REANNZ
REANNZ is a Crown-owned membership organisation dedicated to empowering Aotearoa’s research and education sector. Our members include universities, Public Research Organisations, polytechnics and government agencies.
Since 2007, REANNZ has operated and supported a specialist high-performance digital network. From July 2025, following the integration of the New Zealand e-Science Infrastructure (NeSI), REANNZ now provides a national hub for eResearch, offering advanced network services, high-performance computing, cloud, AI and data analytics platforms, alongside researcher-focused support.
We are a small, highly skilled and collaborative organisation delivering practical, high-impact solutions for researchers and the wider sector.
The role
The Senior Advisor - Governance is a newly created role that plays a critical part in supporting REANNZ as a Crown-owned entity. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, this role provides high-level governance advice and leads the coordination of ministerial, parliamentary and accountability processes.
You will work closely with the CEO, CFO, Senior Leadership Team and Board to ensure governance obligations are met, reporting is delivered to a high standard, and relationships with government stakeholders are managed effectively. This is a hands-on, trusted advisor role suited to someone who enjoys operating at the centre of governance, policy and organisational coordination.
What you will be doing:
Managing ministerial, parliamentary and government information requests, including OIAs and Written Parliamentary Questions
Producing and coordinating governance and accountability documents such as Annual Reports, Statements of Intent, Statements of Performance Expectations and quarterly reporting
Maintaining a governance calendar and managing forward agendas for the Board and executive leadership
Supporting Board and committee meetings, including agenda planning, paper coordination and minute taking as required (including occasional travel)
Providing governance advice and guidance to the CEO and leadership team on public sector obligations and best practice
Coordinating cross-functional inputs from across the organisation to meet reporting and planning requirements
Building and maintaining strong relationships with MBIE and other government stakeholders
Identifying opportunities to improve governance processes, documentation quality and internal accountability frameworks
What we are looking for:
Significant experience in a governance or senior advisory role within the public sector or a Crown entity
Proven experience producing high-quality governance and accountability documents
Sound knowledge of OIA (Official Information Act), parliamentary processes and public sector operating environments
Excellent written communication and documentation skills
Ability to manage complex workflows, competing priorities and strict deadlines independently
Strong relationship-building skills and credibility when working with senior stakeholders
Experience working closely with a Chief Executive, Board or Executive Leadership Team
Why join REANNZ?
At REANNZ, you will be part of a small, passionate team making a big impact on New Zealand’s science and innovation ecosystem.
We offer flexible working, meaningful work, and the opportunity to shape how researchers access and use world-class computing and data systems. If you enjoy working in a government-facing environment but prefer the pace, influence, and visibility of a smaller organisation, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference.
Our benefits include:
Extra time off to recharge, including four REANNZ closedown days over the Christmas period and an annual wellbeing day
Comprehensive wellbeing support, including Southern Cross Wellbeing One health cover, Employee Assistance Program, and annual flu vaccinations
Family-friendly leave, including enhanced parental leave benefits and paid partner leave
Flexibility from day one, with immediate access to sick leave and bereavement leave and the ability to take annual leave as it accrues
Everyday perks, including staff discounts at PB Technologies
Applying
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you are excited about this role but do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. You might be just the right person for the role.
Applications close on Sunday, 15 February 2026
We’re partnering with REANNZ to source and manage new talent. By applying for roles through this site, you consent to HainesAttract collecting and using your information solely for recruitment purposes with REANNZ.
- Department
- REANNZ
- Locations
- Wellington
- Remote status
- Hybrid
- Employment type
- Full-time
About HainesAttract
We’re HainesAttract, a New Zealand-based recruitment solutions company helping organisations find and engage top talent, both locally and globally.
We’re partnering with our clients to source and manage new talent. By applying for roles through this site, you consent to HainesAttract collecting and using your information solely for recruitment purposes with our clients.