The New Zealand Cinematographers Society is the professional body for cinematographers and camera practitioners working across all genres of the New Zealand screen industry. We champion the craft of cinematography, support our members at every career stage, and represent the industry nationally and through our membership of IMAGO, the European Federation of Cinematography Societies.

The Society is deliberately lean: a small, connected organisation close to the people it serves. Our work spans membership services, professional development, events, awards, industry advocacy, sponsorship, and communications. We run on a combination of a small contracted team and a committed volunteer committee.

The Executive Officer is the operational heart of the NZCS. You are the day-to-day engine of the organisation, keeping things moving, managing the administration, maintaining relationships with members and sponsors, and supporting the Management Committee to govern effectively.

It is a broad, hands-on role that calls for someone who is self-directed, thinks ahead, and takes genuine ownership. You will work across membership, events, communications, financial administration, and systems, often across all of them in the same week. You will be the primary point of contact for members and the wider industry, and often the first impression people get of the Society.

The EO works largely independently. You do not need to be managed closely to get things done. In fact, the role works best when you bring your own structure and initiative to it.

Key Responsibilities

General Management

• Day-to-day management of NZCS operations, acting as the primary organisational contact for members, sponsors, and the wider industry

• Prepare agendas, reports, and draft minutes for monthly Committee meetings; follow up on actions and resolutions

• Administer the NZCS membership database: new applications, renewals, monthly subscription reconciliations, and membership queries

• Liaise with the NZCS Treasurer and manage financial administration in Xero, including accounts payable, bank reconciliations, and monthly reporting

• Maintain, improve, and document operational systems and procedures

Sponsorship and Stakeholder Relationships

• Manage existing sponsor relationships and ensure sponsor obligations are delivered, including communication, recognition, and follow-through

• Support the committee in securing and renewing sponsorships

• Maintain relationships with aligned industry organisations, including New Zealand’s various screen industry guilds, New Zealand Film Commission, and IMAGO

Events

• Coordinate and administer NZCS workshops, talks and events: invitations, registrations, logistics, and on-the-day support

• Support the annual NZCS Awards from project management through to delivery, working alongside the Awards subcommittee

• Support professional development workshops and masterclasses in coordination with the PD subcommittee

• Manage event relationships with venues, sponsors, and suppliers

Communications

• Produce the monthly newsletter and manage the communications calendar

• Maintain website content, event listings, and member-facing communications

• Manage NZCS social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) in line with committee direction

• Write and edit content that reflects the Society's voice: conversational, precise, and professional

Accreditation

• Administer the annual accreditation process: coordinating applications, liaising with the accreditation committee, managing voting rounds, and preparing correspondence

• Ensure accreditation documentation and processes are kept current

About You

You do not need to be a cinematographer, but you do need to care about people and craft. The right person for this role brings strong operational instincts, writes clearly, communicates with warmth, and is genuinely comfortable working independently.

You will bring:

• Familiarity with the New Zealand screen industry

• Solid experience in administration, operations, or executive support

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities without losing track of the details

• Clear, confident written communication with the ability to adapt your voice to suit the audience

• Financial literacy: comfortable with invoicing, reconciliations, basic reporting, and working within budget constraints

• A high degree of self-direction. You will work largely independently and need to bring your own structure

• Confidence with digital tools, including membership platforms, accounting software (Xero preferred), and standard business applications

It would be a bonus if you also bring:

• Experience coordinating events, from planning through to delivery

• Experience working with or for a governance board or management committee

• Working knowledge of any type of membership management platform

• Some background in professional writing or communications

The Details

Engagement:  Independent contractor

Hours:  Approximately 40 hours per month, with peaks around events and awards season.

We understand this role may suit someone taking on other short-term or part-time work or who has family commitments and the committee is supportive of this. The basic work hours could be spread around the month to make space for other commitments.

However it is essential the Executive Officer be on-call to deal with urgent matters at times, with the support of other committee members. This may include evening and weekend communication, although this is the exception and not expected for core work.

Events, workshops and monthly committee meetings are held in evenings or weekends. The frequency varies, but at minimum there will be one weekday evening committee meeting per month, and occasionally one or two other educational events. Attendance in person is not always required but it would be expected you are available to attend many of these and oversee elements of planning for all of them, with the support of committee members.

Location:  Remote work. Auckland based preferred, for occasional in-person meetings and events. Must have own computer. NZCS does not have an office.

Reports to:  NZCS Management Committee, with day-to-day liaison through the President and Treasurer

Rate: $65 per hour + GST

Additional Contract: NZCS Awards Management

Alongside the EO role, we are looking for candidates who could take on future NZCS Awards events management.

It is not a requirement to commit to the Awards Management contract to apply for the Executive Officer position, but our preference would be to find a new EO who would also be open to taking on the Awards management role for (as yet) unscheduled 2027 event. We are not planning an awards event in 2026.

This is a separate contract and role to the Exec Officer position, with additional tasks and payment.The Awards contract is at the same hourly rate as the EO role. Hours would be flexible around your other commitments, with the potential to renew this role annually.

The Awards cycle runs approximately nine months of the year, with key phases as follows:

• February onwards: sponsorship outreach and securing financial partners for the event

• May: call for entries opens

• August: judging process

• October: gala presentation dinner, delivered in person

An important focus for 2026 will be reworking the Awards framework from the ground up. The 2027 Awards will be the first under a fully revitalised model, and the incoming EO will play a central role in shaping how that looks. This is a genuine opportunity to put your mark on one of the screen industry’s key annual events.