Manager Water Services

Poneke is a city with ambition, creativity, and resilience at its core.

As New Zealand's capital, we are globally connected yet distinctly local, future-focused yet grounded in our communities, culture, and whenua.

We're committed to building a city that is sustainable, inclusive, and prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow - where infrastructure and mobility are not just services, but enablers of wellbeing, equity, and climate responsibility.

The Manager Water Services provides strategic leadership of Wellington City Council's water services functions through and beyond the transition to a new water entity.

The role ensures Council's responsibilities as asset owner, funder, and shareholder are clearly defined, effectively managed, and aligned with the city's growth and resilience priorities.

This position leads the coordination of Council's internal water-related activities - policy, planning, investment, and performance and maintains strong working relationships with delivery partners to ensure efficient and reliable services for Wellington.

During the transition period, the role is charged with ensuring obligations to the community, regulators, and shareholders are met, and that any changes in service delivery or governance are well integrated into Council systems and planning frameworks.

The Manager Water Services works alongside the Water Reform Programme Manager who is accountable for delivering the water reform programme and establishing the regional entity alongside our regional partners.

Together, these roles ensure a smooth transition : The Programme Manager sets up entity; where the Water Services Manager sets and owns the shareholder expectations and policy framework, prepares WCC to operate in its new role, and ensures residual functions are effectively integrated into Council systems and ways of working.

Following transition, the role will lead Council's ongoing shareholder, policy, and assurance responsibilities, embedding clear expectations, monitoring performance, and ensuring water outcomes remain well connected with wider infrastructure, growth, and climate strategies.

As part of the Infrastructure and Delivery leadership team, the Manager contributes to cross-functional initiatives, collective decision-making, and organisational performance, supporting whole-of-Council outcomes.

Nga tohu me nga wheako | Qualifications and experience

You'll bring the experience and steadiness needed to guide Wellington's water services through a time of change - ensuring we stay focused on good outcomes for people, the environment, and the city.

Strategic and connected thinking :

You understand how water services link to growth, resilience, climate, and community wellbeing and can turn that understanding into clear priorities and practical actions.

Leadership through change :

You're comfortable working in complex, evolving settings and can bring people along with you through uncertainty.

Stewardship mindset :

You value the long view - balancing public expectations, operational realities, and environmental responsibility with care and integrity.

Partnership and influence :

You build strong relationships across technical, community, and governance settings, and get results through collaboration rather than authority.

Governance and assurance experience :

You have experience designing or applying frameworks that give clear visibility of performance, risk, and accountability in an infrastructure or utility context.

Cultural competence :

You demonstrate commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to working in partnership with Mana Whenua and Maori.

Sector knowledge :

You have a solid grounding in infrastructure, utilities, or local government operations ideally including experience in water services, environmental systems, or public assets.

Personal attributes :

You bring curiosity, sound judgement, and a calm, constructive approach with a genuine commitment to public service and to the wellbeing of our communities.

Nou te rourou | What's in it for you

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefitsincluding 5 weeks annual leave , flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

Applications close on the 9 th of November

All applications must be submitted online.

All applicants must have the current right to work in New Zealand.

Diversity :

We want your application to enable you to portray the real you.

Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just formal employment.

If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the advert through whanau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We welcome applications from all walks of life and like our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

Accessibility Support :

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing :

Details

Reference number : Posted on : 22 Oct

Closes on : 09 Nov

• : 55

Location(s) : Wellington CBD

Expertise : Engineering (infrastructure and transport), Environment, Policy, planning and strategy, Waste Management

#J-