Manager Regulatory Services

Wellington City Council; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working options

Health and wellbeing support

Council staff discounts

Learning and development programmes

Job summary

Wellington City Council seeks an exceptional leader to head Regulatory Services, guiding a large, multidisciplinary team in building consents, environmental health, inspections, and enforcement across Wellington.

You will report to the Chief Planning Officer and lead six direct reports within a ~120-strong organisation, shaping regulatory policy and ensuring lawful, transparent decision-making in a politically sensitive environment.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in regulatory environments.
• Experience leading regulatory teams (compliance, building control, inspection, enforcement).
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks and public sector legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Council's regulatory functions.
• Ensure regulatory decisions are lawful, evidence-based, and scrutinizable.
• Drive excellence in customer-focused regulatory services.
• Lead continuous improvement of regulatory systems and processes.
• Build relationships with elected members, government agencies, and communities.
• Influence regulatory initiatives and legislative reform.
• Contribute to Council-wide strategy and performance.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

Stakeholder management

Change management

Strategic thinking

Public sector knowledge

Education

Degree in public policy, law, or related field

Job description

Lead one of New Zealand's most significant regulatory portfolios and help shape the future of Wellington City.

Wellington City Council is looking for an exceptional leader to head our Regulatory Services business unit. This is a pivotal executive leadership role with responsibility for regulatory functions that directly impact the safety, health, development, and wellbeing of our city. The successful candidate will join our senior leadership team and play a key role in helping Council deliver on its strategic priorities for Wellington.

This is not a role for someone looking to step into regulation for the first time.

We are seeking a seasoned regulatory leader with substantial experience leading complex local government regulation, compliance, building control, monitoring, or enforcement functions. You will bring a deep understanding of statutory decision-making, regulatory frameworks, public accountability, and the unique challenges of operating within a politically sensitive environment.

Reporting to the Chief Planning Officer, you will lead a large multidisciplinary business unit responsible for building consents, compliance, environmental health, hospitality regulation, inspections, monitoring, and enforcement activities across Wellington City. You will lead through six direct reports and an organisation of approximately 120 people.

As Manager Regulatory Services, you will:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Council's regulatory functions.
• Ensure regulatory decisions are lawful, evidence-based, consistent, and able to withstand scrutiny.
• Drive excellence in customer-focused regulatory services.
• Lead continuous improvement of regulatory systems, processes, and performance.
• Build strong relationships with elected members, government agencies, industry groups, mana whenua, and the wider community.
• Influence sector-wide regulatory initiatives and legislative reform.
• Contribute as an enterprise leader, helping shape Council-wide strategy, priorities, and organisational performance beyond your own business unit.

Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience within a regulatory environment.

We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Extensive experience leading regulatory teams, compliance, building control, inspection, enforcement, or statutory functions.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks and legislation relevant to local government or similar public sector environments.
• Experience making and overseeing complex regulatory decisions in high-profile and politically sensitive settings.
• Proven ability to lead large teams through change, transformation, and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, including experience working with elected members, senior executives, government agencies, industry bodies, and communities.
• Strong commercial and strategic thinking, with the ability to balance customer outcomes, legislative requirements, public trust, risk, and organisational priorities.
• A genuine enterprise leadership mindset and the ability to contribute to Council-wide outcomes rather than solely focusing on business unit objectives.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

This is an opportunity to make a tangible impact on New Zealand's capital city.

You'll help shape how Wellington grows and develops, influence important regulatory reforms, support economic growth and public confidence, and lead services that affect residents, businesses, developers, and visitors every day. You'll also be part of a senior leadership team committed to delivering excellent public outcomes for Wellington's communities.

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
• 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 22 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 Check, the results of which will be held on your employee file if employed.

Expertise: Compliance, consents, regulation and licencing