Corporate Affairs Specialist

Role overview

This permanent full-time position is based in Auckland. It sits within the Corporate Affairs function and reports to the Corporate Affairs Director. The role focuses on shaping how the organisation and its brands are understood and experienced by employees, consumers, customers, media, and wider communities.

About the organisation

DB Breweries and Star Hospitality are part of the global HEINEKEN group, which operates across more than 70 countries. In New Zealand, the business combines well-known beverage brands with the country’s largest hospitality group to create memorable experiences across breweries, bars, and venues nationwide.

The culture is built around four values: passion for consumers and customers, care for people and planet, enjoyment of life, and courage to dream and innovate. The organisation also highlights a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and fair pay.

Key responsibilities

This is a practical communications role for someone who enjoys storytelling, reputation management, and building meaningful connections.

• Develop and deliver brand and corporate stories through creative PR and communications work.
• Support communications activity across beverage brands and hospitality venue brands, locally and globally.
• Produce clear, compelling content for internal and external audiences, including employee updates, digital platforms, media materials, and stakeholder communications.
• Help protect and strengthen the reputation of both businesses.
• Track stories, trends, risks, and opportunities across media, social channels, venues, brands, and the wider industry.
• Assist with media relations, executive messaging, speeches, presentations, and campaign delivery.
• Contribute to sustainability and ESG communications in a way that is credible, accessible, and engaging.
• Handle media enquiries and support issue management when quick thinking and good judgement are required.
• Keep Corporate Affairs projects moving and bring energy, curiosity, and fresh thinking to the team.

What you need to bring

• About 4 to 5 years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing communications, or sustainability communications.
• Strong storytelling ability, along with excellent writing, editing, and content development skills.
• A creative and inquisitive mindset, with the confidence to contribute ideas and take initiative.
• Experience creating content for different audiences, channels, and tones, from internal communications to external PR.
• Some familiarity with media relations, media monitoring, or social listening tools.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with people at all levels of the organisation.
• Comfort managing several priorities at once while staying composed in fast-changing situations.
• Sound judgement, strong attention to detail, and a genuine interest in reputation, brands, people, and culture.

Benefits and culture

• Free health, life, and income protection insurance.
• Employer KiwiSaver contribution of 5%.
• Monthly allowance of beer, cider, RTDs, or alcohol-free drinks.
• Discounts at Star Hospitality venues for employees.
• An extra paid Enjoyment of Life leave day each year.
• Enhanced parental leave support.
• Free confidential counselling support.
• Access to digital wills, feminine hygiene products, and retail discounts.
• Commitment to fair pay through Mind the Gap and the Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry.

Additional information

This role is permanent and full time. The employer is not accepting applicants from recruitment agencies for this position.