City Activation Manager

Wellington City Council; Wellington, Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working options

Health & wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Learning & development programs

Job summary

Wellington City Council is seeking a dynamic leader to establish and head a brand-new City Activation function. As City Activation Manager, you will shape strategy, build partnerships and deliver programmes that boost vibrancy, economic activity and community engagement across Wellington.

You'll lead a high-performing team, collaborate across Council and with mana whenua, businesses and cultural organisations to turn bold ideas into measurable city activation outcomes that benefit residents,

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in city activation, placemaking, economic development, destination management, events, arts and culture or a related field.
• Experience developing and delivering complex programmes, initiatives or projects that involve multiple stakeholders.
• Strong commercial and strategic acumen with the ability to identify opportunities and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and experience building trusted partnerships across diverse sectors.
• A track record of influencing senior stakeholders and working successfully within complex environments.
• Experience leading teams and creating a high-performance, customer-focused culture.
• An understanding of local government, urban development, economic development or similarly complex operating environments.
• Experience working in partnership with mana whenua and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Experience establishing new functions, programmes, operating models or service offerings, and embedding sustainable systems and processes for long-term success.
• A passion for creating thriving, inclusive and vibrant cities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of Wellington's city activation strategy and work programme, identifying opportunities to strengthen, connect and expand activation activity across the city.
• Build and lead a high-performing team responsible for city activation initiatives and programmes and work closely with teams across Council
• Create strong partnerships with businesses, cultural organisations, event providers, community groups and stakeholders.
• Identify, design and deliver activation products, programmes and partnerships that increase foot traffic, visitation, economic activity and community participation.
• Develop new activation products, service offerings and partnership models that make it easier for organisations, businesses and communities to bring activity into Wellington's public spaces.
• Drive placemaking and precinct activation initiatives that enhance the city experience.
• Champion innovative approaches that support Wellington's reputation as a vibrant and creative capital city.
• Lead a customer-focused concierge and account management approach for external partners seeking to activate the city.
• Influence city-wide initiatives and collaborate across Council to deliver integrated outcomes.
• Establish and continuously improve systems, processes and ways of working that enable the City Activation team to deliver efficient, scalable and high-impact outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Partnership building

Team leadership

City activation

Placemaking

Economic development

Destination management

Influencing senior stakeholders

Job description

Wellington is a city of creativity, culture, innovation and connection. We're creating a brand-new City Activation team to help unlock the full potential of our capital, strengthen and scale successful activation initiatives and develop new programmes, partnerships and city experiences that supports Wellington to be a vibrant, thriving and welcoming place for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

This newly established leadership role offers the opportunity to shape a new function from the ground up and play a key role in delivering the experiences, partnerships, activations and placemaking initiatives that contribute to Wellington's economic, cultural and community success.

As our new City Activation Manager, you'll help position Wellington as a destination where people want to live, work, visit, invest and spend time.

This is a rare opportunity to build something new while leaving a lasting impact on New Zealand's capital city.

Reporting to the Manager Activation, Arts & Economy, you'll lead Wellington City Council's newly established City Activation function and become a key leader within a business unit focused on enhancing Wellington's vibrancy, economic prosperity and cultural identity.

You'll work across Council and alongside businesses, Business Improvement Districts, mana whenua, arts and cultural organisations, event organisers, community groups and government partners to create meaningful activation opportunities throughout the city.

You'll be responsible for turning strategy into action by strengthening and coordinating existing activation efforts, developing new products and programmes, and delivering initiatives that contribute to Wellington’s revitalisation, vibrancy and economic aspirations.

You will:

• Lead the development and delivery of Wellington's city activation strategy and work programme, identifying opportunities to strengthen, connect and expand activation activity across the city.
• Build and lead a high-performing team responsible for city activation initiatives and programmes and work closely with teams across Council
• Create strong partnerships with businesses, cultural organisations, event providers, community groups and stakeholders.
• Identify, design and deliver activation products, programmes and partnerships that increase foot traffic, visitation, economic activity and community participation.
• Develop new activation products, service offerings and partnership models that make it easier for organisations, businesses and communities to bring activity into Wellington's public spaces.
• Drive placemaking and precinct activation initiatives that enhance the city experience.
• Champion innovative approaches that support Wellington's reputation as a vibrant and creative capital city.
• Lead a customer-focused concierge and account management approach for external partners seeking to activate the city.
• Influence city-wide initiatives and collaborate across Council to deliver integrated outcomes.
• Establish and continuously improve systems, processes and ways of working that enable the City Activation team to deliver efficient, scalable and high-impact outcomes.

Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

We're looking for an experienced leader who understands how vibrant cities are created and how partnerships can be leveraged to achieve meaningful outcomes for communities and businesses alike. You will be equally comfortable building new capability as they are delivering outcomes. You'll bring experience strengthening existing programmes, creating new opportunities and products, and translating ambitious visions into practical initiatives that deliver measurable economic, cultural and community impact.

You'll bring strategic thinking, strong relationship management capability and the ability to deliver complex programmes through collaboration and influence, along with.

• Significant leadership experience in city activation, placemaking, economic development, destination management, events, arts and culture or a related field.
• Experience developing and delivering complex programmes, initiatives or projects that involve multiple stakeholders.
• Strong commercial and strategic acumen with the ability to identify opportunities and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and experience building trusted partnerships across diverse sectors.
• A track record of influencing senior stakeholders and working successfully within complex environments.
• Experience leading teams and creating a high-performance, customer-focused culture.
• An understanding of local government, urban development, economic development or similarly complex operating environments.
• Experience working in partnership with mana whenua and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Experience establishing new functions, programmes, operating models or service offerings, and embedding sustainable systems and processes for long-term success.
• A passion for creating thriving, inclusive and vibrant cities.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Opportunities like this don't come along often.

You’ll have the chance to establish a brand-new function, influence how Wellington activates its public spaces and precincts, work alongside a diverse range of city partners, and help shape the experiences that make Wellington an extraordinary capital city.

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including

• 5 weeks annual leave
• flexible working options
• health and wellbeing support
• Council staff discounts
• range of learning and development programmes and opportunities

We welcome applications from all people 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: [e-mail]

Applications close 19 October 2026. Please note that we may engage with applicants prior to the vacancy closing and/or close applications ahead of this date, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

All applications must be submitted online and must have the right to work in New Zealand – we will not accept emailed applications.

All employees must undergo a Criminal Conviction and Drivers Licence check prior to employment.

Expertise: Arts and events, Iwi/public engagement and relations, Marketing and communications