Ventura Fitzgerald
Tahunanui,Nelson
Summary
I am a positive and proactive professional with several years of experience in customer engagement, operational management, and client-focused service delivery. Skilled in providing day-to-day support to busy teams, I excel at managing customer enquiries, tracking milestones, and delivering quotes and costings with accuracy and efficiency. I am a committed team player with an upbeat, positive attitude and proven ability to establish rapport with clients. Motivated to maintain customer satisfaction and contribute to company success. Articulate, enthusiastic, and results-oriented, I have a demonstrated passion for building relationships, cultivating partnerships, and growing businesses.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Contract and Policy Specialist
SecuritEase
Remote Fixed Term |, Nelson
08.2024 - Current
- Drafted compliance and HR policies, documenting procedures, and created customised company policies to address organisational needs. Uploaded these documents into Confluence, building tailored intranet pages for optimised accessibility for employees and vendor management.
- Reviewed contracts, regulations, and procedural guidelines to ensure comprehension and compliance.
- Repapered employment contracts to align with agreed terms and conditions following a company merger.
- Verified and compared salary, benefits, and contract details for employees, utilising Excel and various data sources to build a comprehensive employee database.
Community Relations Manager
Tahunanui Community Hub
Self Employed |, Nelson
02.2023 - 04.2024
- Successfully managed and developed services for the Tahunanui Community Hub (TCH), overseeing staff supervision, operational coordination, and financial sustainability.
- Amplified community engagement by establishing advocacy protocols, expanding food collection initiatives, and fostering positive relationships with partners and suppliers, significantly reducing local isolation.
- Secured multiple grants and managed two high-impact projects, from planning and budgeting to stakeholder coordination, focusing on housing and temporary accommodation impacts.
- Enhanced operational efficiency by implementing a 24/7 booking system, recovering $3,500 in outstanding debts, and driving hall usage through innovative programming.
- Independently authored detailed monthly board reports, ensuring clear communication of progress and challenges.
Regional Coordinator
Young Enterprise Trust
Fixed Term |, Nelson
03.2018 - 12.2019
- Coordinated the Young Enterprise Trust Programme for the Top of the South region, supporting Year 12 and 13 students in developing and managing real businesses.
- Organized three large-scale YES events (150+ attendees) and delivered 30+ workshops annually, fostering strong connections between schools and the business community.
- Created a CRM database of nearly 600 local business supporters, streamlining stakeholder engagement.
- Facilitated mentorship programs, secured in-kind donations, and built professional relationships with students, teachers, and regional media to promote YES activities.
- Developed modern, engaging communication resources using Canva and Typeform, with a standout ‘Get to Know Your Coaches’ document adopted nationally.
Project Manager
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Self Employed |, Nelson
08.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed three significant projects for the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), including UX enhancements, integration with student management systems, and Identity Server authentication.
- Led cross-functional and remote teams, ensuring that progress and decisions aligned with NMIT governance requirements.
- Delivered projects on time through strategic planning, and consistent communication with stakeholders.
- Led meetings with internal team members, consultants and contractors.
- Maintained records of all documents related to each project including specifications, change orders, invoices.
- Managed contracts with vendors and suppliers by assigning tasks and communicating expected deliverables.
- Reviewed project risks and devised proactive strategies to avoid potential roadblocks.
Digital Consultant
BP Oil NZ
Permanent |, Wellington
09.2013 - 11.2016
- Delivered high-profile government and private sector digital projects, including web redevelopment and content strategies for agencies such as the Ministry of Education, Loyalty NZ, and Flybuys.
- Applied best-practice project management methodologies to oversee multi-stakeholder projects, ensuring adherence to timeframes, budgets, and quality standards.
- Conducted focus groups and usability sessions to provide insights into user needs, enhancing digital strategies, and brand alignment.
- Provided CMS training to clients, and technical support to teams, ensuring seamless implementation and operation.
- Provided technical guidance in design sprints related to UI and UX design decisions.
- Cultivated professional client relationships by asking appropriate questions, identifying needs and providing insightful information regarding products.
- Created user experience designs, wireframes and storyboards to visualize the interaction between users and products.
- Performed market research to identify customer needs, competitive landscape and industry trends.
Community Engagement Manager
BP Oil NZ
Permanent |, Wellington
01.2012 - 09.2013
- Managed BP’s Community Investment (CI) partnerships and internal communications, delivering a 3–5 year engagement strategy that doubled the CI budget to $1.5 million per annum.
- Organized two biannual conferences for 350 attendees, securing keynote speakers, and overseeing event production.
- Developed and executed campaigns such as 'Vouchers for Volunteers,' enhancing BP's reputation and community engagement.
- Collaborated with key CI partners, including Surf Life Saving NZ, achieving increased employee participation in community programs.
- Managed social media accounts to engage with a wider range of stakeholders in the community.
- Provided guidance on how best to leverage sponsor relationships in order to maximize ROI.
- Negotiated contract terms with potential partners, including pricing, timeline, deliverables.
Communications Manager
Unilever PLC
Permanent |, London
01.2009 - 02.2011
- Played a pivotal role in Unilever’s first global employee recognition program, coordinating over 2,500 submissions, and delivering system training to 64 global administrators.
- Collaborated with the Unilever Executive Board to define program criteria and develop communication strategies, ensuring cultural and linguistic alignment.
- Managed dependencies across multiple time zones, languages and cultures for Unilever’s Sustainable Agriculture Workshop
- Provided guidance on branding standards for internal teams to ensure consistency across all platforms.
- Tracked performance metrics related to communications efforts including website visits, clicks, impressions, conversions.
- Liaised with external vendors involved in production processes such as design firms or printers.
- Collaborated with other departments to create cohesive messaging across channels.
- Facilitated internal communications to improve employee engagement and promote a cohesive corporate culture.
HR Remuneration Advisor
AIG Insurance Ltd
Fixed Term |, London
07.2008 - 12.2008
- Administered biannual and annual salary reviews, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Compiled detailed reports on HR metrics, delivering insights for executive decision-making.
- Updated and maintained HR databases with current information.
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
- Provided essential support to address individual HR needs of employees.
- Reviewed job descriptions, identified necessary changes and updated accordingly.
Organisation Development Advisor
Department of Corrections NZ
, Wellington
06.2007 - 06.2008
- Directed position management within the department, ensuring the integrity of SAP HR data and organisational structures
- Collaborated with Mercers to develop and implement a new departmental structure, leading a team of three to execute the SAP HR module rollout
- Developed compensation plans including salary surveys, job evaluations, bonus plans.
- Prepared reports related to HR activities such as turnover rate analysis, absenteeism rate.
- Safeguarded human resource information, maintaining employee confidence and protecting operations.
HR Payroll Officer
Department of Corrections NZ
, Wellington
01.2006 - 06.2007
- Ensured timely and accurate payroll for over 2,000 employees, maintaining strict compliance with compensation protocols.
- Performed calculations for retroactive pay adjustments due to promotions or job title changes.
- Managed payroll for temporary, hourly and salaried employees.
- Reviewed timesheets for accuracy prior to processing payroll runs.
- Responded to employee inquiries regarding payroll and timekeeping.
- Maintained up-to-date payroll records by recording employee exemptions, transfers and resignations.
Education
Digital Design Certificate -
Yoobee School of Design
01.2013
Bachelor of Commerce - Major Marketing & Management
University Of Otago
Dunedin, NZ01.2005
Diploma in Business Management -
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
Tauranga, NZ01.2002
Skills
- Exceptional customer service and relationship-building skills
- Proficient in developing clear documentation
- Strong organisational and time management skills for prioritising tasks
- High attention to detail and accuracy in invoicing, costings, and quote production
- Advanced computer literacy
- Effective written and verbal communication, ensuring clear and professional interactions
- Problem-solving skills to identify and resolve business and customer challenges
- Resilience and adaptability in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
- Team-oriented approach, fostering collaboration and workplace harmony
Interests
- Passion for start-up enterprise & innovation
- Design
- 48 Hour Film Competition
- Music
- Healthy living
References
Available on Request
Timeline
Contract and Policy Specialist
SecuritEase
08.2024 - Current
Community Relations Manager
Tahunanui Community Hub
02.2023 - 04.2024
Regional Coordinator
Young Enterprise Trust
03.2018 - 12.2019
Project Manager
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
08.2017 - 06.2018
Digital Consultant
BP Oil NZ
09.2013 - 11.2016
Community Engagement Manager
BP Oil NZ
01.2012 - 09.2013
Communications Manager
Unilever PLC
01.2009 - 02.2011
HR Remuneration Advisor
AIG Insurance Ltd
07.2008 - 12.2008
Organisation Development Advisor
Department of Corrections NZ
06.2007 - 06.2008
HR Payroll Officer
Department of Corrections NZ
01.2006 - 06.2007
Digital Design Certificate -
Yoobee School of Design
Bachelor of Commerce - Major Marketing & Management
University Of Otago
Diploma in Business Management -
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
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