Job Description

Senior Sales Manager – Te Papa & Tākina Venues

Te Papa stands proud as an iconic national building housing the treasures of the nation and is a vibrant destination for both national and international visitors. Te Papa manages and operates key spaces within Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wellington's largest purpose-built convention and exhibition venue.

We're looking for an experienced commercial sales professional to join our Sales and Growth team as Senior Sales Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity responsible for growing revenue across Te papa and Takina by managing a portfolio of high-value key accounts, identifying and converting new business opportunities, and building influential relationships across the business events, tourism, hospitality and commercial sectors.

Reporting to the Manager Sales and Growth, you will own a portfolio of strategically important accounts and play a key role in driving revenue growth across multiple commercial revenue streams. You will lead complex negotiations, develop account growth strategies, represent Te Papa at industry events, and contribute to sales and revenue initiatives that support the long-term success of our venues.

Purpose of the Position

The Senior Sales Manager owns, builds and maintains relationships with strategically important clients and key accounts to achieve annual revenue targets across Te Papa and Tākina.

You will drive commercial growth through proactive account management, business development, sales leadership, and market engagement. Working closely with internal stakeholders, you will identify new opportunities, strengthen client relationships, and maximise revenue across Te Papa's commercial offerings.

You'll work in a way that reflects Manaakitanga (care and respect), builds Whanaungatanga (strong relationships), and encourages Auahatanga (continuous improvement and creativity).

What Success Looks Like

After your first year, you will be recognised as a trusted commercial partner who has successfully grown revenue across Te Papa and Tākina through strategic account management and new business development.

You will have strengthened relationships with key clients, delivered measurable growth across your portfolio, secured significant new business opportunities, and contributed to Te Papa's broader sales and revenue strategies. You will also be recognised as a senior member of the Sales and Growth team who supports and guides colleagues while contributing to a high-performing commercial culture.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Manage, grow and retain a portfolio of strategically important, high-value accounts with clear revenue and growth objectives.
• Identify, pursue and convert new business opportunities across priority markets and customer segments.
• Lead the development of proposals, commercial negotiations, contracting processes and sales conversions for complex opportunities.
• Represent Te Papa and Tākina at industry events, trade shows and networking activities while building influential industry relationships.
• Contribute to sales strategy, market intelligence, revenue forecasting and the ongoing development of a high-performing sales culture.

Essential Requirements

To be considered for this role, applicants must have:

• Experience in a high-performance, results-driven sales environment, ideally including senior sales, key account management, business development, venue sales, hospitality sales, events sales, tourism sales, or a related commercial role.
• Demonstrated success managing high-value accounts and achieving significant revenue growth targets.
• Proven experience developing and converting complex commercial opportunities through negotiation and relationship management.
• Strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills, together with the legal right to work in New Zealand.

It Is a Bonus If You Have

• Experience within the events, convention, hospitality, tourism, cultural, or venue sectors.
• Knowledge of Wellington's business events, conference and major events market.
• Experience managing strategic accounts across multiple revenue streams.
• Experience representing an organisation at trade shows, industry events, or commercial partnerships.
• An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori, and the application of relationship-based approaches within a commercial environment.

The work across our operation is busy, exciting and fast-paced, supported by a fantastic and collaborative team environment. This is an opportunity to play a significant role in the commercial success of two of New Zealand's leading events and visitor destinations.

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Wellington, 40 hours per week.

The starting salary for this position will be between $79,299 - $94,166 annum, with opportunities to progress as you gain experience in the role. Offers will be made within the range to reflect the skills and experience offered by candidates and internal relativities with other employees.

Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Prior to Te Papa confirming any offer of employment, pre-employment checks will be undertaken, including criminal conviction history and reference checking as a minimum.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Recruitment@tepapa.govt.nz

Applications close on Sunday 9 August 2026