Manager Operations and Assets

Department: Water and Waste; Invercargill City; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Southland District Council seeks a dynamic Manager Operations & Assets – Water Services to lead drinking water, wastewater and stormwater across one of New Zealand's largest districts. You will oversee critical infrastructure, manage contractors and guide a capable team delivering essential services to more than 30 communities.

This role emphasizes practical leadership, relationship-building with communities and stakeholders, and balancing regulatory requirements with strategic investment in a

Qualifications

• Technical credibility with strong people leadership.
• Experience leading in complex infrastructure, utilities or service delivery.
• Excellent relationship-building with contractors, stakeholders and communities.
• Innovative and affordable service delivery mindset.
• Sound judgement and practical problem-solving.
• Genuine commitment to making a difference for communities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee water services including drinking water, wastewater and stormwater across the district.
• Lead and develop a capable team and coordinate with contractors.
• Balance regulatory requirements with community expectations and investment plans.
• Engage with communities and stakeholders to inform decisions.

Skills

Leadership

People skills

Relationship-building

Strategic thinking

Community engagement

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Department: Water and Waste – Invercargill, South Island

Manager Operations & Assets – Water Services

After a long and successful career helping deliver safe,reliable water services across Southland, our Manager Operations & Assetshas decided 2027 is the year he'll swap treatment plants for grapevines andpursue his dream of making wine.

While we're excited for him, we're also looking for anexceptional leader to step into one of the most rewarding and challenginginfrastructure roles in local government.

The good news? Our future winemaker is committed tosupporting a successful transition, giving you the opportunity to learn fromsomeone who knows Southland's water networks, communities and contractorsbetter than almost anyone.

This Isn't a Role for the Faint-Hearted

From Fiordland to Stewart Island, you'll help lead waterservices across one of New Zealand's largest and most geographically diversuedistricts. You'll oversee drinking water, wastewater and stormwater operations,critical infrastructure, contractors and a capable team delivering essentialservices to more than 30 diverse communities.

But this role is about more than operations.

It's about helping shape practical, innovative andaffordable solutions for communities that care deeply about their future, whilebalancing regulatory requirements, infrastructure investment, operationalexcellence and community expectations.

Why Now?

There has never been a more exciting time to be involved inwater services.

Following extensive community consultation, Southland made aclear choice to continue delivering water services in-house. With strong localsupport and a significant programme of infrastructure investment ahead, you'llplay a key role in shaping the future of water services across the district.

You’re our kind of leader if:

• You're technically credible, but your real strength ispeople.
• You know the best infrastructure outcomes don't happen frombehind a desk. They come from being out in the field, talking with contractors,listening to communities, understanding local challenges and buildingrelationships that stand the test of time.
• You'll enjoy being visible and accessible, whether that'sattending a community meeting, discussing a project with residents, supportingyour team on site or working alongside contractors to solve problems.
• You genuinely enjoy connecting with people and earning theirtrust.
• You'll also bring the curiosity and courage to challenge thestatus quo, finding innovative and affordable ways to deliver essentialservices in an increasingly complex environment.

You’ll Bring:

• Significantexperience in the water sector.
• Provenleadership in a complex infrastructure, utilities or service deliveryenvironment.
• Strongrelationship-building skills with contractors, stakeholders andcommunities.
• Apassion for innovative and affordable service delivery.
• Soundjudgement, resilience and a practical approach to problem-solving.
• Agenuine commitment to making a difference for communities.

Need a little more convincing….

This is a rare opportunity to combine technical leadership,community connection and genuine purpose all while living in an area knownfor its natural beauty, community spirit, and outdoor adventure.

You'll help shape water services for communities that valuelocal decision-making, influence significant infrastructure investment, andleave a lasting legacy for future generations.

If you're the sort of leader who enjoys a site visit as muchas a strategy session, knows relationships matter as much as regulations, andis excited by the challenge of delivering innovative and affordable waterservices, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close Sunday 20 September 2026

We will review applications as they are received and may progress therecruitment process before the closing date.

For more information on working atSouthland District Council, visit: https://vacancies.southlanddc.govt.nz