Chief Operating Officer

Brannigans Consulting Limited; Wellington; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks' annual leave

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Employer superannuation up to 8%

Job summary

Tasman District Council is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to drive organisational performance and strategic change across the council. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead across people, culture, governance and digital initiatives, guiding transformation with influence and collaboration.

You will work with the Executive Leadership Team to align systems and processes, build capability, and embed accountability, improvement and innovation while prioritising Te Tiriti o

Qualifications

• Seasoned executive leader with a track record of large-scale organisational improvement.
• Ability to influence across diverse stakeholder groups and governance frameworks.
• Experience leading transformation, culture change, and technology-enabled improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead organisational performance and strategic change across Council.
• Deliver continuous improvement and alignment of people, systems and processes.
• Act as trusted advisor to the Chief Executive and elected members.
• Build capability and foster a culture of accountability and innovation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Stakeholder management

Governance experience

People & culture leadership

Education

Master's degree in public administration or related field

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Tasman District Council is a dynamic and forward‑thinking local authority serving the beautiful Tasman region. With a strong focus on community wellbeing, sustainability and future resilience, the Council plays a vital role in delivering essential services, shaping growth and making a real difference for the community, businesses and visitors alike.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Officer is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, leading organisational performance, digital innovation, people and culture, governance, legal services, communications, and enterprise-wide risk and improvement initiatives.

The opportunity

This is a broad enterprise leadership role focused on enabling organisational performance, continuous business process improvement and strategic change across Council. Success will come through influence and collaboration. You'll work across the organisation to support the align people, systems and processes, build capability and embed a culture of accountability, improvement and innovation. As a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive and elected members, you'll play a key role in shaping Council's future direction and delivering meaningful outcomes for the community.

About you

You are an experienced executive leader with a track record of delivering organisational improvement and leading change in complex environments.

You will bring:

• Proven experience leading large-scale transformation and organisational performance initiatives
• Strong leadership across people, culture, technology and business improvement
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence across diverse stakeholder groups
• Experience operating within strong governance frameworks
• A collaborative, authentic leadership style and a commitment to developing high-performing teams
• An understanding of, or commitment to, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and meaningful iwi partnerships

Local government experience is advantageous but not essential.

Why Tasman District Council?

Join a high-performing executive team and help shape the future of one of New Zealand's most progressive councils.

Based in the stunning Tasman region, you'll lead meaningful change, contribute directly to community outcomes, and enjoy an executive benefits package including five weeks' annual leave, employer superannuation of up to 8%, health insurance, and relocation assistance where applicable.

Applications close Sunday 4 October 2026

For further inquiries, contact Odette Shearer at **************@brannigans.co.nz, ph 021 270 8657 or Nick Carter at ***********@brannigans.co.nz, ph 0275 913 422.

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