• Lead today. Shape tomorrow.
• Be part of an organisation committed to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Work with skilled professionals who are passionate about what they do.

We're looking for a strategic and delivery-focused leader to guide our Three Waters assets and capital delivery services through an important period of change, growth, and increasing regulatory expectations. This is a key role for someone who can connect long-term asset planning with practical, well-scoped capital delivery for the Whakatāne District and is based in Whakatāne.

Ko wai mātau | About us

The people at Whakatāne District Council love what we do because we do it for others, and that feels good. We work hard and we know it's important to stop and play too. We're on a learning journey because we know we can always do better, and we know we're better together. Will you come on that journey with us? In return, you'll get access to a range of staff benefits including flexible working arrangements, an extra week's annual leave and free or discounted access to our community facilities. You'll never be more than half an hour away from rivers, lakes, forests, beaches and great walks - most are just on your doorstep. We love this place, and you will too.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

As our Manager Waters Assets & Capital Delivery, you'll strategically lead asset management planning and the delivery of our Three Waters capital works programme. You'll ensure asset management plans are accurate, future-focused, and aligned to regulatory, growth, resilience, budget, and community expectations.

You'll lead a skilled team responsible for asset management and capital projects, providing strategic leadership across planning, budgeting, programme management, compliance reporting, contractor oversight and stakeholder relationships. Working closely with internal teams, delivery partners, regulators, iwi and hapū, and the community, you'll build capability to ensure our capital works programme is well scoped, prioritised, monitored and delivered effectively, transparently and cost efficiently.

You'll play an important role in the delivery of the Water Services Delivery Plan. This includes shaping future ways of working as the Council transitions to new water services arrangements and develops and implements its Water Services Strategy.

Ko wai koe | About you

You're an experienced asset, infrastructure, or capital delivery leader with strong technical knowledge of Three Waters services and the ability to turn strategy into practical, well-managed programmes of work. You bring sound judgement, strong relationship skills, and the confidence to lead people, systems, budgets, and performance in a complex and changing environment.

You'll bring

• Senior leadership experience in Three Waters asset management, infrastructure planning, capital delivery, or related environment.
• A recognised qualification in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, or a related field; Chartered Professional Engineer status, or progress toward it, is desirable.
• Strong programme, project and budget management capability, including planning, monitoring and delivering capital works programmes, and providing strategic advice and assurance to elected members.
• Sound understanding of asset management plans, levels of service, regulatory compliance, consents, information disclosure, and audit requirements.
• The ability to work collaboratively with internal teams to deliver shared outcomes.
• Experience building team capability, improving systems and processes, and lifting project management delivery.
• Strong relationship management skills, across diverse internal and external stakeholder and community groups
• A commitment to health, safety and wellbeing, continuous improvement, transparency, and delivering services that respond to community needs.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking approach aligned to regulatory and environmental best practice.
• A proactive, solution-focused mindset and commitment to continuous improvement

Ngā whaipainga |Our values

• We're always learning and improving - Toitū te Taumata
• We're passionate and proud - Toitū te Mauri Ora
• We work as one team - Toitū te Mahi Tahi
• We put people at the heart of everything we do - Toitū te Tangata
• We care about our environment - Toitū te Taiao

Me pēhea te tono mai | How to apply

If you're ready to lead with purpose and help shape the future of Three Waters asset planning and capital delivery for the Whakatāne District, we'd love to hear from you.

We're keen to keep things flowing so send us your CV and Cover Letter. We are reviewing applications as they come in and will hire as soon as we find the right candidate — so don't delay in submitting yours.

For any further information, please phone 07 306 0500 to speak with Nic Johansson, Transition Director.