Engagement Manager

Taituarā; Rotorua; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rotorua Lakes Council in Rotorua is seeking an experienced Engagement Manager to lead the Council's engagement function and shape connections with communities, iwi, stakeholders and partners.

This permanent full-time role (40 hours per week) sits within the Communications and Engagement leadership team, focusing on strategic leadership, governance of the engagement programme and ensuring compliance with legislation and council priorities.

Qualifications

• Senior management experience in a large, complex or politically sensitive environment.
• Proven experience leading engagement, consultation or stakeholder programmes.
• Strong knowledge of engagement principles and IAP2 frameworks.
• Ability to build relationships with iwi and hapū and apply tikanga Māori approaches.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach and develop a high-performing Engagement Team with a positive culture.
• Provide strategic oversight of engagement and consultation across the organisation.
• Oversee the Engagement Framework ensuring fit-for-purpose activities.
• Provide strategic oversight of statutory consultation processes and compliance.
• Manage team workloads, resources and priorities to meet organisational priorities.
• Monitor and evaluate engagement activities and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Governance

IAP2 knowledge

Job description

Lead the way we connect with our communities.

At Rotorua Lakes Council, the work we do has a direct impact on the people, places and communities that make the Rotorua district unique. We're looking for an experienced Engagement Manager to lead Council's engagement function and help shape how we connect with our communities, iwi, stakeholders and partners.

This is a unique opportunity to establish and grow a new dedicated engagement function. As part of the Communications and Engagement leadership team, you'll play a key role in building and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

You'll provide strategic leadership and governance of Council's engagement programme, ensuring engagement and consultation activities are well planned, coordinated and aligned with Council's Engagement Framework, legislative requirements and organisational priorities.

As Council's engagement subject matter expert, you'll provide trusted advice to senior leaders, champion best-practice engagement across the organisation, and help ensure communities have meaningful opportunities to contribute to the projects, services and decisions that shape Rotorua.

Success in this role will come from your ability to bring people together, build strong relationships, navigate complex issues and diverse perspectives, and influence positive outcomes for both Council and the community.

What you'll be doing:

• Managing, coaching and developing a high-performing Engagement Team, building engagement capability and fostering a positive team culture
• Leading Council's engagement function and providing strategic oversight of engagement and consultation activities across the organisation
• Overseeing Council's Engagement Framework and ensuring engagement activities are fit-for-purpose, consistent and aligned with the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation
• Providing strategic oversight of statutory consultation processes and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies and Council requirements
• Managing team workloads, resources and priorities to ensure services are delivered effectively and organisational priorities are met
• Monitoring and evaluating engagement activities, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and organisational learning

This is a permanent full-time position (40 hours per week) based at the Civic Centre in the heart of Rotorua.

What you'll bring:

• A demonstrated respect for tikanga Māori, te reo Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Senior management experience in a large, complex or politically sensitive environment
• Proven experience leading engagement, consultation or stakeholder relationship programmes in a complex environment
• Strong knowledge of engagement principles, IAP2 frameworks and consultation best practice
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining effective relationships with iwi and hapū
• Knowledge of tikanga Māori and the ability to apply culturally appropriate engagement approaches
• An understanding of the Local Government Act, statutory consultation requirements and the legislative framework that guides community participation

Why join us?

At Rotorua Lakes Council, our purpose is centred on our customers, our communities, and our people. We are committed to working in partnership with Te Arawa, our local iwi, and aspire to being a bicultural organisation that reflects the unique identity of our district.

You'll be joining a supportive, high-performing Communications and Engagement team that enjoys working together, sharing ideas and celebrating success. We support each other through challenges and take pride in helping our community stay informed and connected.

Rotorua is a fantastic place to live, work, and play. From world-class mountain biking, walking and running trails in the Redwoods Forest, to our beautiful lakes and cultural experiences, there's something for everyone. Our offices are located alongside the beautiful Government Gardens, providing the perfect spot for a lunchtime walk and a daily reminder of what makes Rotorua such a special place.

If you're looking for a role where you can make an impact, work with great people and help shape the conversations that matter to Rotorua, we'd love to hear from you.