Corporate Affairs Specialist
Kia ora!
This is an opportunity to help manage Air New Zealand’s relationships with government, regulators, and regional stakeholders, and support the airline’s engagement on public policy issues that affect how we operate and plan for the future.
As a Corporate Affairs Specialist, you’ll sit in the Government and Regional Affairs team and be part of our wider Corporate Affairs function, playing an important role in shaping how Air New Zealand engages externally. This includes representing the airline’s perspective to decision-makers, tracking policy and regulatory developments, and building a strong understanding of what matters to communities and stakeholders across New Zealand. We’re open to candidates with experience in government, regulatory, and/or regional roles.
Air New Zealand operates in a complex and highly regulated environment. Our corporate teams support the business by managing risk, informing strategy, and helping the airline respond effectively to change.
About the role
You will have the opportunity to work across a broad portfolio, supporting advocacy, engagement, and advice that enables Air New Zealand to meet its commercial, environmental, and social objectives.
Key responsibilities within the Government and Regional Affairs team include:
- Monitor and analyse policy, legislative, and regulatory developments, identifying risks and opportunities for the business
- Support effective engagement with government agencies, regulators, industry bodies, and regional stakeholders
- Prepare high-quality briefings, submissions, and position papers that reflect business priorities
- Contribute to regional engagement initiatives that build understanding of Air New Zealand’s role in regional connectivity and economic growth
- Share the perspectives, concerns and feedback of government and regional stakeholders back to the airline’s senior leadership team
- Provide timely advice to internal stakeholders and senior leaders on emerging issues and stakeholder sentiment
- Partner across Corporate Affairs, Communications, Brand, and the wider business to deliver coordinated, credible advocacy.
What we’re looking for
- Experience in government relations, policy, regulatory, and/or regional affairs, gained in the public sector, a corporate environment, or a related setting
- Experience in issues management
- Established relationships in either central or local government, ideally at a political level
- A sound understanding of New Zealand’s governmental and/or regulatory landscape
- Strong relationship management skills, with the confidence to engage credibly with senior internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, persuasive advice
- Political instinct, commercial awareness, sound judgment, and a collaborative, positive and proactive approach.
If you bring most of this experience, along with transferable skills and the drive to grow, we’d love to hear from you.
What we can offer you
We want our people to live their best lives and access great benefits that support them inside and outside work, including discounted flights for you and your whānau, FlexiLeave with the option to purchase up to four extra weeks of leave each year, a learning culture that supports your development and future career pathways, access to Koruhealth medical cover and discounted private health insurance options, and a range of lifestyle and wellbeing perks through our staff benefits programme.
Ready for take-off
If you love a challenge, thrive on gnarly issues and enjoy learning new things with a great team, then we’d love to hear from you. This role is one that will make a real difference for the airline!
Applications close 1st March 2026.
Please note while we will provide an outcome to all applicants, due to the high volume of applications we will only organise conversations with shortlisted candidates.
Additional Information
At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those with a disability, additional health and mental health needs, and/or are neurodiverse to apply for our roles.
If you have encountered any accessibility barriers and require further information or reasonable accommodations to our recruitment process, please reach out to the recruiter listed on this job advert so they are able to support you to freely participate equitably in our recruitment and selection process.
Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.
"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality."