The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s mission is to enhance New Zealand's natural advantage. We do this by: encouraging high-performing sectors; developing safe and freer trade; ensuring healthy New Zealanders; and by protecting our natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

The Communications and Information Services Directorate is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of communications plans, programmes and projects. The directorate provides communications leadership, support and information services to the Director General and the wider organisation.

The Principal Adviser, Research and Evaluation reports directly to the Director, MAF Communications and is also a member of the Communications and Information Services Leadership Team.

In this role you will:

• Provide professional research and evaluation advice and consultancy to internal clients and decision-makers
• Undertake research and evaluation projects or manage research and evaluation contracts and relationships with external providers that will contribute to:
  • Understanding MAF’s audiences and helping shape communications strategies
  • Monitoring and evaluating MAF’s overall communications performance, and the performance of communications work programmes.

We are looking for someone with:

• Extensive experience in both operational and strategic research and evaluation
• Experience in communications and social marketing research and evaluation
• Ability to develop innovative research and evaluation methods and confidently provide research and evaluation advice to key decision-makers
• Strong communication, presentation and reporting skills
• Strong relationship management skills.

For further information about this role, or to apply, please contact Shelley Easthope on 04 894 0471, shelley.easthope@maf.govt.nz, quoting vacancy 08-527.

Applications close Wednesday 12 November.