Programme Manager

The CTU is the peak body of New Zealand’s trade union movement, representing working people by highlighting key issues, supporting campaigning, and advancing worker-friendly policy. We recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document.

1. Position Details

2. Role Purpose

The Programme Manager leads, manages, and coordinates NZCTU’s Comms and Campaigns and Policy teams to deliver agreed work programmes. The role oversees the operationalisation of effective policy, campaign, and advocacy strategies to advance NZCTU’s goals.  As a member of the management team, the Programme Manager provides strategic advice, supports organisational decision-making, and ensures strong coordination across the Policy and Comms and campaigns teams and the union movement as appropriate.

3. Key Responsibilities

·       Lead the Policy and Comms and Campaigns teams, including staff management, coordination of the work plan, facilitating collaboration, wellbeing, and professional development.

·       Lead the delivery of NZCTU’s strategy and organisational development priorities across the Policy and Comms and Campaigns functions.

·       Provide organisational leadership, contributing to the leadership team and supporting effective decision-making in line with NZCTU’s values and priorities.

·       Contribute to the development and oversee delivery of integrated policy, campaigning, advocacy, and organising strategies that influence public policy, build support for NZCTU’s ideas, and achieve agreed workplan outputs and outcomes.

·       Contribute to NZCTU’s movement-building and alliance work, including mobilising affiliates and allies around shared goals and strategic activities.

·       Oversee the work of the Policy Team to ensure high-quality policy development, public commentary, and advancement of NZCTU’s political priorities.

·       Oversee the work of the Comms and Campaigns team, to ensure effective media, social media, digital and campaigns outputs which advance our priorities

·       Oversee and support key external relationships, including engagement with the National Affiliate Council, social partners, allied organisations, Ministers of Parliament and Government Departments.

·       Lead reporting on the work of the Policy and Comms and Campaigns team to the President and Secretary and Governance structures.

4. Key Relationships

·        Internal: Secretary, President, Operations and Finance Manager, Policy Team Members, Comms and Campaigns Team Members.

·        External: Affiliate unions, National Affiliate Council members, allied organisations, government officials and Members of Parliament.

5. Person Specification

·       Commitment to the values of the organisation, including an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the ability to work in a way that supports equity, inclusion, and the wider trade union movement.

·       Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, with a strong commitment to staff wellbeing, capability-building, and high-quality delivery.

·       Demonstrated experience in a senior leadership role, with the ability to contribute to organisational strategy, exercise sound judgement, and support effective decision-making.

·       Experience overseeing strategies in areas of policy, advocacy, and campaigning in complex political or public environments.

·       Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders including allied organisations, government officials, Members of Parliament and others.

·       Ability to coordinate work programmes, align priorities, and deliver outcomes in a collaborative environment.

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, and present complex ideas clearly.

General note: This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected in the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed and updated by agreement to reflect organisational priorities.

Please send up to date CV, and also a covering letter that addresses the points raised in the position description.

Please send to Sue Windsor    suew@nzctu.org.nz  by 5pm Wednesday 22nd July 2026

Requirement: Applicants require permanent work rights for NZ with no restrictions