Communications and Events Coordinator

Organisation: Women in Sport Waitaha (WIS-W)

Role Title: Communications & Events Coordinator

Contract Type: Independent contractor

Hours: On average, 7 hours per week average

Remuneration: $35-$40/ hour excluding GST depending on experience

Duration: 6 months initially with possible renewal (dependent on organisational context and growth)

Location: Remote / flexible, Christchurch-based preferred

Reporting to: WISW Chair / Committee

Applications close: 27th September 2026

About Women In Sport Waitaha

Women in Sport Waitaha is a Canterbury-based incorporated society dedicated to advancing equity for women in sport. We connect, profile, and develop women across sport governance, coaching, administration, and volunteering. We run events, publish a newsletter, and advocate for equity in sport. We are a small, volunteer-led organisation entering a period of growth.

Established as an informal organisation in 2022, Women in Sport Waitaha became an Incorporated Society in April 2025. Our Vision is Equity for women and girls to be active in Waitaha. We will achieve this by connecting, inspiring and advocating for all who enable and empower women and girls to be active. The reason we exist is because Females are under-represented in decision-making roles, have more barriers to participation, and receive less media coverage, investment, and sponsorship than males.

Purpose Of The Role

This is WISW’s first paid role. You will be the engine behind our communications and events - keeping our community engaged, our inbox managed, and our events running smoothly. You will work closely with our volunteer committee and have real autonomy to shape how we show up publicly.

This role is about being the conduit between the committee, external stakeholders and the community to deliver our vision of equity for women in sport.

Key Responsibilities

Marketing and Communications

• Write and send the newsletter - Frequency tbc
• Manage and respond promptly to the WISW inbox (womeninsportwaitaha@gmail.com or equivalent)
• Maintain the email database accuracy and distribution lists (Mailchimp or equivalent)
• Create, schedule and publish engaging social media content (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)
• Keep the website up-to-date with events, news, and in time, member content
• Proofread and format committee communications and reports to a professional standard
• Support membership sign-ups and timely follow-ups through the member database

Event administration

• Plan and coordinate event logistics for WISW events (including venue, catering, registrations, run sheet)
• Write and distribute invitations to events (quarterly Breakfast invitations and other events as we get them confirmed)
• Manage event registrations and attendee communications
• Liaise with and brief speakers and oversee event day operations
• Collate and process post-event reports including attendance and feedback
• Contribute to planning and delivery of larger events (e.g. Women in Sport Expo)

General

• Participate in agreed committee or subgroup meetings (where agreed) and follow through on agreed actions
• Provide timely administrative support to the fundraising sub-committee as required
• Organise and maintain shared files and systems (Google Drive, spreadsheets)
• Submit accurate fortnightly invoices to WISW for hours worked
• Undertake other reasonable administrative tasks as required

Mentoring Coordination

• Coordinate the WIS-W mentorship programme, including connecting mentors and mentees
• Maintain accurate programme records and deliver clear and timely communications
• Support and maintain relationships with external organisations (e.g. Recreation Aotearoa) to avoid duplication and explore collaboration
• Coordinate logistical and administrative support with the governance development initiatives as required
• Track activity and outcomes and provide regular updates to the committee on programme activity and outcomes

We note that this is a non-exhaustive list of activities, and it may change and adapt with the organisations priority and growth.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Strong written communication — can write with warmth, clarity, and purpose
• Experience with managing CRM systems, Wordpress and other technology platforms
• Social media content creation (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Canva, scheduling tools like Meta)
• Event coordination experience (community or professional)
• Comfortable managing an inbox and responding on behalf of an organisation
• Self-directed and able to work without close supervision
• Aligned with WISW’s mission of equity and women’s leadership in sport
• Flexibility to work mornings or evenings: WISW is currently a volunteer-led organisation, driven by a passionate but busy committee of wahine. This is a new role to support the committee, therefore the role may include hours outside of standard working hours, including breakfast events and evening committee meetings.

Desirable

• Experience with Substack, Mailchimp, or similar newsletter platforms
• Experience or interest in the sport, recreation, or NFP sector
• Knowledge of Canterbury’s sport networks

What Success Looks Like

• Effective communications: WISW communications including newsletters, social media, website, and committee materials are well planned, professional, and up-to-date.
• Responsive stakeholder support: Members, stakeholders, speakers, partners, and event participants receive clear, courteous, and timely information and interactions reflect positively on WISW.
• Well-delivered events: Events are carefully planned, appropriately promoted, and supported by clear run sheets, confirmed logistics, effective speaker coordination, and accurate registration information.
• Reliable systems and records: Membership, programme, event, financial, and administrative records are accurate, current, and easy for authorised users to locate.
• Strong committee support: Committee and subgroup priorities are progressed through proactive planning, dependable administration, and consistent follow-through.
• Effective mentoring coordination: The mentoring programme is administered in a structured and participant-focused way. Mentors and mentees are matched thoughtfully, receive clear guidance and ongoing communication, and know where to seek support. External relationships are managed constructively to align activity, avoid duplication, and create opportunities for shared impact.
• Useful reporting and continuous improvement: The committee receives concise, accurate, and evidence-based updates on communications, events, membership, mentoring activity, participation, feedback, and emerging risks.

What We Can Offer

• Flexible hours — work when it suits you, mostly remote
• A meaningful mission representing a passionate, growing community
• Autonomy to shape how WISW communicates
• Connection to an emerging Canterbury women’s leadership network
• Possibility of role extension or expansion as the organisation grows

How To Apply

To express interest, please send a brief cover letter and your CV to womeninsportwaitaha@gmail.com by 27th September 2026. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and lived experience, and particularly welcome applications from wāhine Māori, Pacific women, and women from other under-represented communities.

For any questions about the role, please contact the committee at womeninsportwaitaha@gmail.com.