Communications Manager

Tell the story of sailing in Aotearoa

From a first sail at the local club to Olympians racing on the world stage, Yachting New Zealand exists to help sailing and boating thrive across Aotearoa. We are a not-for-profit team of around 25 people, supporting our member clubs, classes and affiliated organisations, as well as New Zealand’s elite sailors.

We are looking for a Communications Manager who can shape our story and tell it brilliantly.

The role

You will own Yachting New Zealand’s communications end-to-end. Your goal is to build understanding, trust and alignment among our members, clubs, participants and stakeholders, and to bring our people, programmes, events and stories to life across every channel. You will lead the function, backed by some external support.

Key accountabilities

Set the direction

• Develop and deliver our annual Communications Strategy and tactical plan, and set clear priorities.

• Track performance across the website and social channels and use the insights to inform and sharpen what we do.

Create content people want to engage with

• Find the people, stories and moments worth telling, and turn them into compelling written, visual and short-form video content - photography, interviews, reels, graphics and social posts.

• Run our website, Briefings EDM and social media, giving each channel a clear purpose and keeping content accurate, user-focused and fresh.

Be where the action is

• Deliver communications and content for priority events, attending some to capture photography, video and interviews, and delivering timely content before, during and after.

• Support our commercial partners and sponsor activity.

Raise our profile

• Build strong media relationships - write releases, pitch stories, coordinate interviews, prepare spokespeople and handle day-to-day enquiries.

Look after the brand

• Manage our brand guidelines, own the Annual Report and oversee major publications and collateral.

• Keep an organised library of images, video and digital assets.

About you

You are a storyteller who can do it all - plan it, shoot it, write it, publish it and measure it. You will bring:

• Proven experience in a communications or content role, ideally within sport, a membership organisation or not-for-profit.

• Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills across multiple channels.

• Strong media relations skills, including proactive pitching.

• Hands-on experience running social media channels and managing website content through a CMS.

• Practical photography, video and multimedia skills – you can capture and edit content yourself.

• Confidence interviewing people and turning their experiences into stories.

• Working knowledge of SEO, accessibility principles and digital analytics.

• A tertiary qualification in communications, marketing, journalism or a related field (preferred).

Knowledge of New Zealand sailing and boating is a bonus - or the willingness to get up to speed quickly.

Why Yachting New Zealand?

This is your chance to make a role your own and help shape the future of sailing in New Zealand, alongside a passionate team. You will be based in our Milford/Takapuna office, with some domestic travel and weekend work - that is where the best stories happen. Plus:

• Free parking and an on-site gym

• An annual health and wellbeing benefit

• A short walk to the beach, and close to transport links and the shopping mall

• Friendly office dogs on some days

How to apply

Send us your CV and a cover letter telling us about your experience and why this role excites you, via Seek by 20 October 2026.