_{26th August, 2026}

Likemind is proud to be partnering with World of WearableArt (WOW) to recruit an exceptional Head of Commercial to join their Senior Leadership Team.
This is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join one of New Zealand's most iconic creative organisations and play a leading role in bringing an ambitious global vision to life.
  
About WOW
WOW is the world’s premier wearable art competition and New Zealand’s
largest annual theatrical spectacle, attracting over 60,000 people each year.

Beyond the annual show, WOW is pursuing an ambitious growth strategy to expand its global community of wearable art makers and significantly increase its international reach through a programme of innovation and growth.

WOW exists to create awe-inspiring encounters with a world of wearable art and is guided by values centred on creativity, collaboration, excellence, curiosity, and leaving a positive legacy.

The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Head of Commercial is a newly created senior leadership role that will play a pivotal part in turning WOW's long-term vision into commercial reality, a 24-month fixed-term contract.

The Head of Commercial will play key role in realising WOW’s long term plan and lead the commercial engine of the organisation. Identifying, developing, and delivering new revenue opportunities, partnerships, activations, experiences, and ventures in New Zealand and internationally.

This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. The Head of Commercial will develop business cases and feasibility studies, create and manage commercial pipelines, proactively build relationships, lead major partnership negotiations, and help shape WOW's future growth beyond the annual show.
Key focus areas include:

• Driving commercial and revenue growth across partnerships, sponsorships, funding, experiences, merchandise, licensing, and new ventures.
• Commercialising new experiences and opportunities in local and international markets.
• Developing strategic partnerships with investors, sponsors, government agencies, and industry stakeholders.

About You
We're looking for an entrepreneurial, commercially astute leader who can see opportunity where others see complexity and who is energised by building new initiatives from the ground up.
To be successful, you will bring:

• Proven experience in commercial partnerships, business development, executive producing, or a comparable commercial growth role.
• A track record of delivering revenue growth through innovative commercial strategies and activations.
• Experience evaluating, launching, and scaling new products, ventures, experiences, or services into new markets.
• An appreciation for creativity and the role it plays in inspiring communities and audiences worldwide.

Why Join WOW?
This is an opportunity to join a passionate leadership team and help shape the future of an internationally recognised New Zealand success story. You'll have the chance to influence strategic direction, build new commercial opportunities, and contribute to an ambitious vision that extends well beyond the annual show.

If you're excited by the challenge of combining commercial excellence with creativity, innovation, and global growth, we'd love to hear from you.
For a confidential discussion, please reach out to Kim Lusby, Director – kim@likemind.nz
  
Please note, that you must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Background and various pre-employment checks are part of the recruitment process.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. We do all we can to encourage collaborative and diverse working environments throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

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