Rangatahi Engagement Advisor

Harbour Sport; Upper Harbour; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Harbour Sport in Auckland's North Harbour region is seeking a Rangatahi Engagement Advisor to work with rangatahi, schools, communities and sector partners to ensure youth voice shapes participation opportunities, experiences and outcomes across play, active recreation and sport.

This is a relationship-focused role that champions youth development principles, strengthens connections between young people and the systems that support them, and helps create more inclusive opportunities for

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people, schools, community organisations or youth-focused initiatives.
• Knowledge of youth development principles, including Mana Taiohi.
• Strong relationship-building, facilitation and communication skills.
• Experience engaging, consulting or co-designing with young people.
• Understanding of play, active recreation, sport, wellbeing or community development sectors.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion and culturally responsive practice.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and applying its principles in practice.
• A full New Zealand driver’s licence is required, as regular travel throughout the region is part of the role.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with rangatahi, schools, community organisations and sector partners.
• Facilitate opportunities for youth voice to inform planning, decision-making and participation experiences.
• Champion youth development and Mana Taiohi approaches.
• Support initiatives that improve participation and belonging for girls and young women, disabled rangatahi and less active young people.
• Connect schools and communities with active recreation opportunities, providers and resources.
• Gather and share insights, stories and evidence to support continuous improvement.
• Support youth-led initiatives, leadership opportunities and community engagement activities.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to maximise outcomes for rangatahi.

Skills

Relationship-building

Facilitation

Communication

Youth engagement

Co-designing with youth

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.

Permanent | Full-time | North Harbour Region

Are you passionate about empowering rangatahi and creating opportunities for young people to thrive?

Harbour Sport is seeking a Rangatahi Engagement Advisor to work alongside rangatahi, schools, communities and sector partners to ensure youth voice shapes participation opportunities, experiences and outcomes across play, active recreation and sport.

This is a relationship-focused role that champions youth development principles, strengthens connections between young people and the systems that support them, and helps create more inclusive opportunities for rangatahi, particularly girls and young women, disabled rangatahi and those who are less active.

About the Role

Working across the North Harbour region, you will build meaningful relationships with rangatahi, schools, community organisations and sector partners to better understand the needs, aspirations and experiences of young people.

You will facilitate youth voice, strengthen partnerships, gather and apply insights, and support organisations to create more engaging, inclusive and accessible participation opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with rangatahi, schools, community organisations and sector partners.
• Facilitate opportunities for youth voice to inform planning, decision-making and participation experiences.
• Champion youth development and Mana Taiohi approaches.
• Support initiatives that improve participation and belonging for girls and young women, disabled rangatahi and less active young people.
• Connect schools and communities with active recreation opportunities, providers and resources.
• Gather and share insights, stories and evidence to support continuous improvement.
• Support youth-led initiatives, leadership opportunities and community engagement activities.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to maximise outcomes for rangatahi.

About You

You are passionate about working alongside young people and creating opportunities for their voices to influence positive change.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Experience working with young people, schools, community organisations or youth-focused initiatives.
• Knowledge of youth development principles, including Mana Taiohi.
• Strong relationship-building, facilitation and communication skills.
• Experience engaging, consulting or co-designing with young people.
• Understanding of play, active recreation, sport, wellbeing or community development sectors.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion and culturally responsive practice.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and confidence applying its principles in practice.
• A full New Zealand driver's licence is required, as regular travel throughout the region is part of the role.

Only applicants with the right to work permanently in New Zealand will be considered.

Harbour Sport is committed to honouring the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our governance, operations and relationships. and the principles of Partnership, Protection and Participation. We are committed to partnership with tangata whenua and the protection of Māori culture and taonga. We value the distinctiveness that tangata whenua bring to physical activity and our success on a world stage. We believe a strong bi-cultural foundation is critical to our national identity and wellbeing.

Our values of Manākitanga (Respect, Care and Support), Rangatiratanga (Leadership with Integrity) and Whanaungatanga (Inclusive Connection and Community) guide everything we do. We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels seen, heard and valued.

As an organisation that works with children and young people, Harbour Sport is committed to safer recruitment practices and maintaining environments that promote the wellbeing and safety of all tamariki. Successful applicants will be required to undergo appropriate pre-employment screening, including Police Vetting, in accordance with our safeguarding responsibilities and organisational policies.