Manager Urban Planning and Research

Manager Urban Planning and Research, Strategy and Growth

We’re focused on lifting our regulatory performance and need you!

Our Council is making some changes to how we operate across our local regulatory system, which is led from our Strategy and Growth Group. We are focused on ensuring that our Council is well positioned to :

• Make the most of the exciting growth opportunities facing Kapiti, with more than $2 billion in investment planned over the next 5-10 years, and that we are prepared for the increase in volume of work we expect from this pipeline.
• Pivot in response to the plethora of rolling central government reforms which demand greater flexibility in process, and clear expectation to reduce the time and cost of regulation.
• Ensure we implement our communities direction that the right people pay for the right services : ‘growth pays for growth’.

As part of our local regulatory system role, there is a need for our Group to define how we want to grow (‘good growth’) and to assess the impact of collective efforts to improve community outcomes (including from Council activity).

This key position reports directly to the GM Strategy & Group and is one of six senior managers within the Group who are responsible for the Council’s sustainable development functions and for ensuring there is a drive for ‘good growth’ in Kapiti. This role :

Why work with us? When you join Kāpiti Coast District Council you’ll enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including :

The GM of the Group is looking for a hard-hitting and experienced senior leader to drive the performance of our ‘rockstar’ urban planning and research functions – she’s particularly interested in someone with :

This is a demanding role, involving contact with the community, and will be perfect for a ‘results driven’ operator that’s looking for something new. So, if this grabbed your attention and it sounded like you, stop scrolling and start typing - we’re really keen to you hear from you and hope you’ll hit “apply” to put yourself in the running to join the senior management team in the Strategy and Growth Group.

For more detailed information regarding the role, please view the job description here. (PDF 301 KB)

How to apply | Me pēhea te tono

Come and join us in supporting our district to grow well, and to work with our community and key stakeholders somewhere people can live, work and play!

We are working at pace to get the right person here, so applications close on Friday 7 November 2025 - get yours in now!

Please note that we will be reviewing applications as they come in – we will interview for the role from 3 November 2025 and will be looking to promptly appoint the right person.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand. Please note preferred candidates are required to undergo pre-employment checks including drug and alcohol screening and Police checks.

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