_{23rd September, 2025}

About Ara Education Charitable Trust (AECT)
The Ara Education Charitable Trust (AECT) was founded through a unique and successful partnership between industry, government agencies, and five visionary school principals.
Our goal: to create meaningful employment and training opportunities for school leavers in South Auckland.
We are proud of our innovative model and the positive impact we've had in empowering rangatahi in our community to thrive through education, employment, and holistic support.
About the Role
The purpose of the Communications and Engagement Lead (Full time or Part time) is to make sure the work we do at Ara is visible, valued, and supported — through great communication and strong relationships with our community and partners.
This role is critical in telling the story of who Ara is, enabling us to work with more employers, youth, and community members.
Key Responsibilities
Communication and Brand

• Develop a strong brand story for Ara
• Develop all internal and external communications including annual reports, website, social media, and other channels
• Manage all communication and social media platforms
• Develop marketing and communications plan to support Ara's objectives
• Support the leadership team to develop communications, papers, and reports as required

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with key community groups
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, philanthropic partners, and media
• Develop and deliver a community engagement strategy that supports Ara to meet its strategic objectives
• Work with the GM and wider leadership team to develop engagement initiatives with prospective employers, providers, participants, and other potential stakeholders
• Deliver engaging presentations to current and prospective partners that showcase Ara's story

Event Management

• Lead the planning and delivery of key events including graduations, community engagement events, funding briefings, etc.
• Ensure that events are culturally responsive to the audiences being delivered with

Reporting and Leads Management

• Develop and maintain effective reporting metrics for all marketing and communication initiatives
• Effectively manage all leads that arise from marketing and engagement campaigns
• Work effectively with internal stakeholders to ensure all leads are passed on to the correct teams

Cultural Responsiveness

• Engage effectively with the communities and stakeholders that Ara works with including schools, employers, iwi, Pasifika groups, and other community groups

Financial Management

• Manage budgetary requirements ensuring expenditure aligns with approved budgets and financial policies

Health and Safety

• Promote and uphold a positive health and safety culture by complying with all H&S policies, identifying and managing risks, reporting incidents, and ensuring the safe use of equipment while actively participating in safety initiatives and training.

Experience & Skills
Essential:

• 5+ years' experience in communications, community engagement, or marketing roles
• Proven experience developing and executing internal and external communications strategies
• Demonstrated ability to craft compelling brand narratives and messaging across multiple platforms
• Strong experience in community engagement, particularly with diverse communities, ideally within South Auckland
• Proficiency in managing social media, websites, newsletters, and digital communication tools
• Experience in planning, promoting, and delivering events, including stakeholder management and logistics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for different audiences
• Lived experience or strong cultural competency engaging with Pasifika and Māori communities

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the not-for-profit or charitable sector, including funding and stakeholder reporting
• Knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in community and communications work
• Experience in graphic design, video content creation, or use of design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Suite)
• Basic understanding of marketing analytics and tools to measure campaign success

Qualifications
Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Education or a related field

Expected Outcomes / Deliverables

• Consistent, professional communications are distributed regularly
• Development of communication and engagement plan
• 4-6 well-run stakeholder events delivered annually
• Increased awareness and reputation in the community and sector

How to Apply
 
Please submit your CV and cover letter, and include a response to the following question:
 
Tell us about a time you significantly raised an organisation's profile through communications. What did you do, and what was the result?

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