Principal Advisor Crisis Management

Join our team; Ngaruawahia; Remote; NZD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Flexible working options

Annual performance and remuneration ?e

Access subsidised health insurance

Birthday leave

Work–life balance day every six months

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing programme

Free health checks, training and 'Work

Job summary

Waikato District Council is seeking a Principal Advisor Crisis Management to shape community resilience and readiness. You will influence strategy, partners, and capability development across the district, guiding senior leaders and emergency professionals to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities.

You will lead design of plans, procedures, and training, while fostering enduring collaborations with iwi, emergency services, and other stakeholders to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in emergency management, crisis management, business continuity, resilience, or related discipline.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and providing strategic advice.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build trusted relationships.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence to influence and guide decision-making.
• Proven experience developing frameworks, plans, and capability-building programmes.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/ or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve Council’s crisis management and organisational resilience framework.
• Provide trusted advice and support to senior leaders before, during, and after emergency events.
• Develop and maintain emergency management plans, procedures, and response arrangements.
• Design and facilitate training, exercises, and simulations that strengthen organisational readiness.
• Build strong partnerships with emergency services, government agencies, iwi, lifeline utilities, and key stakeholders.
• Lead assurance activities, lessons learned reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support effective response and recovery efforts during emergency and disruption events.

Skills

Emergency management

Crisis management

Business continuity

Resilience

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Training design

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

Help shape how our communities prepare, respond, and recover.

When disruption occurs, strong leadership, clear thinking, and effective planning make all the difference. As our Principal Advisor Crisis Management, you’ll play a pivotal role in strengthening organisational resilience and ensuring we are ready to respond when our communities need us most.

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to influence at a strategic level, build meaningful partnerships, and lead initiatives that have a genuine impact across the district. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, emergency management professionals, iwi, partner agencies, and community stakeholders to build capability, drive preparedness, and continuously improve our crisis management framework.

If you’re an experienced emergency management professional who thrives on collaboration, strategic thinking, and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

What will I do?

In this key advisory role, you’ll:

• Lead and continuously improve Council’s crisis management and organisational resilience framework.
• Provide trusted advice and support to senior leaders before, during, and after emergency events.
• Develop and maintain emergency management plans, procedures, and response arrangements.
• Design and facilitate training, exercises, and simulations that strengthen organisational readiness.
• Build strong partnerships with emergency services, government agencies, iwi, lifeline utilities, and key stakeholders.
• Lead assurance activities, lessons learned reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support effective response and recovery efforts during emergency and disruption events.

What will I bring?

You’ll be a credible and influential advisor with the ability to remain calm, resilient, and solutions-focused in complex situations.

You’ll also bring:

• Significant experience in emergency management, crisis management, business continuity, resilience, or related discipline. [
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and providing strategic advice.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build trusted relationships.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence to influence and guide decision-making.
• Proven experience developing frameworks, plans, and capability-building programmes.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/ or equivalent professional experience.

Why join our team?

We are at an exciting stage of our journey and are continuing to progress through a significant organisational transformation that is helping shape our future.

As our organisation evolves, you’ll have the opportunity to influence how we work, contribute fresh ideas, and help build a collaborative and inclusive workplace where people can thrive.

We are committed to investing in our people and providing ongoing learning, development, and career growth opportunities to support your professional aspirations.

Additional Information

Salary circa $135K dependent on skills and experience.

Waikato District Council offers a range of benefits to employees:

• Free parking.
• Make work, work for you with flexible working options.
• Benefit from annual performance and remuneration reviews.
• Access subsidised health insurance.
• Celebrate with a day of birthday leave.
• Receive a work–life balance day every six months after your first year.
• Access confidential support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Take advantage of our employee wellbeing programme.
• Receive free health checks, training and education at our annual Work Safe Home Safe event.
• Save with Boost discounts and special offers from New Zealand retailers and service providers.

Ready to make an impact?

If you’re passionate about resilience, preparedness, and helping communities navigate uncertainty, we’d love to hear from you.