Community Relations Advisor

Bay-of-Plenty-Regional-Counci; Rotorua; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is seeking a Communications and Engagement professional to lead engagement planning and delivery for diverse projects in the Rotorua region. The role supports online and in-person formats across council initiatives and collaborates with the Communications and Te Amorangi teams to build community participation.

You will engage with Māori and youth communities, manage multiple priorities, and maintain impartiality while delivering effective engagement outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience engaging with diverse communities including Māori and youth.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team, while managing multiple priorities.
• Ability to remain impartial and advocate for the process rather than a specific outcome.
• Demonstrate digital competency.
• Hold a degree level qualification in a relevant field.
• An IAP2 Certificate of Engagement, Project Management experience, competency in Te Reo Māori or conflict resolution would be an advantage
• Experience in deliberative processes and behaviour change is desirable

Responsibilities

• Provide engagement and communications planning, advice and delivery across a wide range of issues and projects
• Grow community participation through a range of engagement formats including online and kanohi ki te kanohi for projects from across council
• Flexibility to support the wider Communications and Engagement and Te Amorangi teams as needed
• Support others within council to grow their engagement capability
• Review and report on engagement activities including opportunities for innovation

Skills

Community engagement

Communication

Independence & teamwork

Impartiality

Digital competency

Te Reo Māori

Conflict resolution

Deliberative processes

Behaviour change

Degree qualification

Education

Bachelor-level qualification in a relevant field

IAP2 Certificate of Engagement

Project Management experience

Job description

Thriving together- mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata.

Our environment and our people go hand-in-hand.

He kōrero whakamārama mō tēnei tūranga | About the role

Duties are varied and include:

• Provide engagement and communications planning, advice and delivery across a wide range of issues and projects
• Grow community participation through a range of engagement formats including online and kanohi ki te kanohi for projects from across council
• Flexibility to support the wider Communications and Engagement and Te Amorangi teams as needed
• Support others within council to grow their engagement capability
• Review and report on engagement activities including opportunities for innovation

Ō pūmanawa | Your skills and experience

The skills and personal attributes we look for are:

• Proven experience in engaging with diverse communities, including Māori and youth
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team, while managing multiple priorities.
• Ability to remain impartial and advocate for the process rather than a specific outcome
• Demonstrate digital competency
• Hold a degree level qualification in a relevant field
• An IAP2 Certificate of Engagement, Project Management experience, competency in Te Reo Māori or conflict resolution would be an advantage
• Experience in deliberative processes and behaviour change is desirable

Ko wai mātou | Who we are

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for land, air and water as well as public transport and regional development. A major focus of our work involves looking after the environment. We manage the

effects of people’s use of freshwater, land, air and coastal water. However, we also have a broader responsibility with others for the economic, social and cultural well-being of the regional community.

We are a values-driven organisation that really cares about people. Who you are is important to us. We welcome diversity as an opportunity to grow our teams and are keen to support people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, and disabilities/abilities. We want the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to be a place where you can bring your whole self to work.

You’ll be joining the Community Engagement team. We define engagement within our organisation as working “purposefully with affected communities to help shape decision about our proposed plans and actions”. As a team, we strive to build community confidence through transparent, inclusive and meaningful decision-making processes.

Mā te tuakana e tika ai te teina, mā te teina e tika ai te tuakana

Through relationships and respect we can find the way forward

Highlights of working for us are:

Toi Moana has a reputation for being one of Aotearoa’s most progressive regional councils. People like working for us because we offer:

• The opportunity to make a significant positive difference to our communities.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment
• An inclusive and diverse workplace
• Excellent wellbeing initiatives
• A competitive salary will be offered to the successful candidate which will be commensurate with relevant experience.
• Engagement Institute Corporate membership

This fixed term position is required from October 2026 for a period of two years. The role is based in Rotorua, but open to applicants from the wider Bay of Plenty.

This position is required to be on call on a rostered basis 24/7, usually for a week at a time, to support Civil Defence Public Information Management and reactive regional council communications in the event of an emergency or incident.

NB: To apply for this job, you must have the legal right to be able to work in New Zealand and also a current, valid driver's licence.