Content and Channels Manager

Wellington City Council; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working options

Health and wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Learning and development programmes

Job summary

Wellington City Council seeks an experienced Content and Channels Manager to lead our digital content, channels and social media functions. This strategic role shapes how we tell Wellington's story and builds connections with communities across multiple platforms.

You will guide a talented team of content professionals, drive audience growth and engagement, oversee governance and editorial standards, and use data to inform strategy and decision making.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading content, communications, media, or digital engagement functions.
• Proven success developing social media strategies that grow reach and engagement.
• Experience managing organisational social media channels including governance and advertising.
• Strong knowledge of current and emerging social platforms and trends.
• Editorial leadership across written, visual, and video content.
• Ability to use data and analytics to inform strategy and decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building across a complex organisation.
• Experience building and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Leading content and channel strategy across digital communication platforms.
• Driving audience-focused storytelling to inform, engage and build trust.
• Providing editorial leadership across written, visual and video content.
• Overseeing a high-performing team of content professionals.
• Managing Council's social media, newsletters, website news and internal channels.
• Using audience insights and analytics to refine engagement and reach.
• Collaborating with leaders to deliver stories that support priorities.
• Championing innovation in digital communications and audience engagement.

Skills

Content leadership

Social media strategy

Governance & moderation

Audience growth & engagement

Editorial judgement

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Job description

Are you a digital communications leader with deep social media expertise and a passion for creating content that connects, informs and inspires?

Wellington City Council is seeking an experienced Content and Channels Manager to lead our visual content, digital channels and social media functions. This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who brings fresh thinking, positive energy and a strong understanding of how audiences engage across today's digital platforms. You'll shape how we tell Wellington's story, build meaningful connections with our communities, and lead a talented team delivering high-impact content across multiple channels.

Āu ake mahi | What you'll do

Reporting to the Manager Communications and Creative, you'll lead the team responsible for Council's owned digital communication channels, including social media, enewsletters, website news content, intranet communications, videography, photography, and digital storytelling. You'll lead a team of talented content professionals and play a key role in shaping how Council communicates with Wellingtonians.

This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for developing and delivering a best-practice content and channels strategy that supports Council priorities while reaching and engaging diverse audiences across Wellington. You'll have the opportunity to shape the future of Council's digital communications and ensure our stories are reaching people where they are, in ways that matter.

Social media is a critical component of this role. You'll provide strategic leadership across Council's social media channels, driving audience growth, engagement, channel performance, community management, social media advertising, governance, and the ongoing evolution of Council's social media presence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading Council's content and channel strategy across digital communication platforms.
• Driving audience-focused storytelling that informs, engages and builds trust with Wellingtonians.
• Providing editorial leadership and oversight across written, visual and video content.
• Leading and developing a high-performing team of content specialists.
• Overseeing Council's social media channels, digital newsletters, website news content, and internal communication platforms.
• Using audience insights, analytics, and emerging trends to continually improve engagement and reach.
• Working closely with leaders across Council to identify and deliver compelling stories that support organisational priorities.
• Championing innovation and ensuring Council remains at the forefront of digital communication and audience engagement.

Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

You’ll be an experienced communications leader with a strong background in content, media, digital channels, or journalism, and a proven ability to lead teams in fast-paced and high-profile environments.

Importantly, you’ll bring significant social media expertise. You will understand how to use social and digital channels to grow audiences, increase engagement, manage reputation, and deliver meaningful outcomes. You will be confident navigating emerging trends, audience behaviours, and evolving platforms, while balancing strategic opportunities with organisational risk.

We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading content, communications, media, or digital engagement functions.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing social media strategies that have grown audience reach, engagement, and impact.
• Experience managing organisational social media channels, including governance, moderation, reputation management, and social media advertising.
• Strong knowledge of current and emerging social media platforms, trends, audience behaviours, and best practice.
• Exceptional editorial judgement and content leadership across written, visual, and video formats.
• The ability to use data, audience insights, and analytics to inform strategy and decision making.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across a complex organisation.
• Experience building, leading, and developing high-performing teams.

Just as importantly, you’ll be a leader who brings energy, positivity, and momentum. You’ll inspire your team, champion new ideas, and foster a culture where creativity, innovation, and collaboration thrive. You’ll enjoy leading from the front, building enthusiasm around great storytelling, and helping others do their best work.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

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 and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

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 whānau 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 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 4 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.

Pre-employment Checks: All employees must undergo a Criminal Conviction Check, the results of which will be held on your employee file if employed.

Expertise: Digital, graphic and creative design, Marketing and communications