Organisational Culture Partner – Fixed Term

Rotorua Lakes Council; Rotorua; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 62,000; Part time

Job summary

Rotorua Lakes Council is seeking an Organisational Culture Partner for an 18‑month fixed-term period (20 hours per week). The role leads the ongoing evolution and implementation of Tai Kawenga, partnering with People & Culture to drive organisation-wide culture initiatives.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will embed Tai Kawenga into daily practices, influence leaders and employees, and coordinate culture programmes while ensuring alignment with the council's strategic priorities and

Qualifications

• Experience in organisational development, culture, change management, communications or HR.
• Knowledge of Te Ao Māori and its application in culture and people practices.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive engagement across a large organisation.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate culture initiatives across the organisation.
• Build organisational change capability and internal adoption of new ways of working.
• Provide guidance on culture, engagement and change management to leaders and teams.
• Support delivery of council-wide culture initiatives aligned with strategic priorities.

Skills

Culture

Change management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Facilitation

Relationship building

Organisational development

Employee experience

Job description

At Rotorua Lakes Council, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by Tai Kawenga, our cultural framework that shapes how we work, lead and serve our community, we are committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive, grow and contribute to meaningful outcomes for Rotorua.

We are seeking a Fixed Term Organisational Culture Partner (20 hours per week) for an 18-month fixed-term period to lead the ongoing evolution and implementation of Tai Kawenga while partnering closely with the People & Culture team to deliver organisation-wide culture initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about culture, engagement and organisational change and who enjoys influencing positive outcomes across a diverse organisation.

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal role in embedding Tai Kawenga into everyday practices, behaviours and decision-making across Council. Working collaboratively with leaders and employees across the organisation, you will co-ordinate culture initiatives, build organisational change capability, drive engagement activities and support the successful adoption of new ways of working. You will provide guidance and advice on culture, engagement and change management while ensuring key programmes remain aligned with Council's strategic priorities and people practices.

Success in this role will come from your ability to build trusted relationships, influence stakeholders, maintain momentum across multiple initiatives and bring people together around a common vision. You will be comfortable working in a dynamic environment, co-ordinating programmes of work, monitoring progress and providing meaningful insights that support organisational success.

To be successful, you will bring experience in organisational development, culture, change management, communications, human resources, or a related field. You will have a strong understanding of organisational change and stakeholder engagement, along with excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills. Experience working within complex organisations, an understanding of Te Ao Māori, and a genuine commitment to creating positive organisational outcomes will be highly regarded.

In return, you'll join a passionate and supportive team, work alongside committed leaders, and have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the culture and employee experience at Rotorua Lakes Council. This 20-hour-per-week, fixed-term role for 18 months offers a unique chance to contribute to meaningful organisational change while helping to strengthen a culture that reflects who we are and how we work together.

If you're ready to help shape the future of our organisation and bring our culture to life, we'd love to hear from you.