Senior Communications Advisor - Scion

• Would you like to be part of an energetic, creative team charged to inspire and excite people about the huge potential for New Zealand from our forests and trees?
• Do you thrive on explaining complex ideas, creating awareness and shaping perceptions?
• Do you believe in the value of creating positive impressions through a brand that can touch hearts and minds?

If yes is your answer, then the Senior Communications Advisor position at Scion may be just for you. Reporting to the Marketing and Communications Manager, this role is based within a close-knit team of professionals. Scion seeks a passionate storyteller who can translate complex scientific ideas and results into everyday language and craft compelling stories for our audiences to maximise the impact of communication outputs.

The practical tasks are wide and varied, including content creation for multiple channels, developing and delivering collateral and championing the organisation's brand and reputation. You will collaborate with other corporate and science teams to effectively inform, promote, and showcase Scion's successes and the benefit of Scion's work to stakeholders, partners, users and the public.

Key accountabilities:

• Assist with delivery of the communications strategy to communicate science outcomes, achievements and the value of research, science and technology to New Zealand.
• Produce and publish content suitable for Scion's external audiences using a cross channel approach.
• Enhance the public profile of Scion as a research institute by championing Scion's value to New Zealand and producing material to support corporate marketing activities.
• Media relationships: identify and build relationships with key media, pitch to media and manage media monitoring.
• Play a collaborative role in the Marketing and Communications Team so it functions as a highly performing, integrated team.

We seek a communications professional who has:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in marketing, communications or journalism.
• At least 5 years' experience in a senior marketing and communications or journalism role.
• Excellent written language skills and ability to craft compelling stories.
• Proven ability to express complex ideas in plain English, in a style appropriate to the audience.
• Experience in content generation for multiple channels and publication formats.
• An eye for detail, proofing and publication processes, and experience in working to deadlines.
• Experience in working in a multi-disciplinary team and environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills to interact with science groups and others at all levels throughout the organisation.
• Ability to work within a close team and promote a positive team spirit.
• Independent and innovative thinker.
• An awareness of forestry and the workings of the science sector would be highly beneficial as would experience as a science or technology writer.

Scion specialises in research, science and technology development for the forestry industry, wood products and wood-derived materials and other biomaterials. Specialists in propagation and forest management, we lead new technology development for renewables, bioproducts and energy and the establishment of a broader based circular bioeconomy.

Scion presents talented and ambitious individuals the unique opportunity to pursue a fulfilling professional career at the heart of New Zealand's forest industry. With our main campus at the edge of Rotorua's world-famous Whakarewarewa Forest, Scion offers a great working environment. Our central location and proximity to coastal beaches and inland lakes, native forests, geothermal areas and ski-fields, offer many opportunities to balance work with the other things that are important in your life.

Come and join us!