Executive Assistant, to DCE Emergency Management

Type: Permanent

Location: Wellington- Based Only

Here is your chance to use your super-organisational skills! This fast-paced role is to provide the DCE, Emergency Management (who is also Director of EM) with dependable personal secretarial support and some wider administrative Support to NEMA’s Executive Office.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

The purpose of the Executive Assistant is to provide the DCE, Emergency Management/Director of Emergency Management with dependable personal secretariat support and to provide some wider administrative support.

This role sits in the Executive Office and will see you managing the DCE’s working day to enable them to filly meet the demands of their position. 

As NEMA is an operational agency, there may be a requirement to respond to emergency activations in the event of a national emergency response.  This may include potentially long hours and challenging working conditions, e.g. an emergency could occur at any time of the day or night and may require working shifts and/or working weekends. NEMA provides thorough training prior to you being required to assist in a response. NEMA will do all in its power to support staff in meeting their work and family responsibilities during an emergency. The welfare and wellbeing of our staff is of utmost importance.

In a response, the DCE, EM becomes the Director of Emergency Management, so you will also support him in this capacity, which may involve working long/different hours at any time. 

Due to the nature of our role in Emergency Management, NEMA has a very dynamic work environment and as a small agency, staff are often required to pivot and change focus on their work at short notice. Attributes of adaptability, agility, resilience and curiosity are all required on a daily basis, in and out of times of emergency response.

Ko wai koe | About you

We are looking for a candidate with the following skills and attributes:

• Demonstrated experience providing efficient and effective executive support
• Demonstrates they are a team player with experience working closely with senior leadership teams and other business units. 
• A high level of computer literacy in Microsoft packages, including Visio, with the ability to adapt to new technologies. 
• Excellent secretarial and process management skills with experience in taking minutes or willingness to learn. 
• Experience in working with multiple internal and external stakeholders and negotiating and managing their variable needs to support the Manager’s deliverables
• Ability to multi task, reprioritise and react to issues that arise during the day whilst keeping calm and professional in demanding situations. 
• Ability to influence without authority and ensure work gets completed effectively and on time. 
• Interpreting the Deputy Chief Executive’s needs while proactively looking beyond their day to day workload and anticipating situations which will affect them.      

Ko wai mātou | About us

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system as a whole, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery. 

NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives. 

We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day to day work, values and practices.

Ta matou e tuku | What we offer

We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence is recognised and where staff are encouraged to develop their own talents and potential. We welcome diversity, in all its forms and we believe it is a strength.

NEMA values staff health, safety and wellbeing, and a positive work life balance is encouraged.

The indicative base salary range for this role is $80,241 - $84,804. NEMA offers other benefits such as Department leave, Wellbeing allowance, Vision allowances and more. 

Whakaritenga Haumaru | Security Requirements

Due to the security requirements of this role, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident. 

Me pehea te tono | How to apply

Please select 'Apply' to download a position description or apply. If you have any questions, contact us on email NEMATalent@nema.govt.nz. We do not accept unsolicited approaches from agencies or 3rd parties.  Please Note: There will be nobody answering questions until after the 12th January, so we will answer your questions on our return.

To view the full job description please click here.

Applications close 5pm Sunday 11th January 2026.  PLEASE NOTE: Indicative dates for interviews are 20th/21st January. 

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is a departmental agency of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).  NEMA provides leadership in reducing risk, being ready for, responding to and recovering from emergencies.