Senior Advisor

Hutt City Council; Wellington; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay package

Friendly and supportive team

Development opportunities

Flexible working

Job summary

Hutt City Council is seeking a Senior Advisor in the Transformation Directorate. The fixed-term, full-time role runs until 26 November 2027, with a 40-hour week to support the Target Operating Model and city priorities in Lower Hutt.

You will advise the Director, lead key projects, synthesize information, and prepare concise materials for senior audiences. We are looking for politically astute, strategic collaboration, and strong communication skills to drive outcomes across teams and partners

Qualifications

• Experience advising on complex, politically sensitive matters.
• Ability to lead projects and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communications for senior audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide trusted advice to the Director of Transformation on high-priority matters.
• Lead and deliver transformation projects and work programmes.
• Develop business cases, reports and presentations for senior audiences.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to support progress.
• Identify risks and opportunities and keep work on track.

Skills

Senior stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Project leadership

Strategic thinking

Written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

• Build smarter, more sustainable solutions for our city's future
• Make decisions that matter, visible outcomes for your team
• Work with purpose, your mahi contributes directly to our city

About The Role

Make a difference in your community as a Senior Advisor in the Transformation Directorate at Hutt City Council. This role is fixed term full-time (until 26 November 2027), working 40 hours per week.

The Transformation Directorate supports the Council's strategic objectives, helping progress priorities that contribute to a connected, resilient and inclusive Lower Hutt Te Awakairangi, in particular related to our Target Operating Model.

As Senior Advisor, You'll

• Provide trusted advice to the Director of Transformation on complex, high-priority and politically sensitive matters.
• Lead and deliver key projects, initiatives and pieces of work that support the Transformation work programme and Council's strategic objectives.
• Bring together information from across Council and external sources to develop practical recommendations, options and advice.
• Support effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare clear, well-crafted business cases, reports, correspondence, presentations, talking points and supporting materials for senior audiences.
• Represent the Transformation Directorate in senior-level forums and working groups, building trusted relationships that enable progress.
• Identify risks, opportunities and longer-term implications, escalating matters where needed and helping keep key work on track.

If you enjoy working at pace, navigating complexity and providing high-quality advice that supports meaningful outcomes for the city, we'd love to hear from you.

The read more about the role, please refer to the Job Description.

About You

We're looking for a politically astute, strategic and collaborative senior advisor who can operate with sound judgment, discretion and confidence in a complex environment.

What You'll Bring To The Role

• Demonstrated experience operating at a senior level in politically sensitive, or complex environments.
• Sound political judgment, discretion and the confidence to work with senior leaders, elected members and diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly understand issues, identify options and provide well-reasoned advice.
• Advanced strategic thinking, including the ability to anticipate risks, longer-term implications and opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing concise briefings, correspondence and supporting materials.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across teams and with internal and external partners.
• Experience in or alongside local government, central government or a similarly complex public-sector environment would be an advantage.

You'll join a committed team where your advice, judgement and relationship skills will help support delivery of the Transformation Directorate priorities and contribute to positive outcomes for our community.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay package
• Friendly and supportive team
• Development opportunities and flexible working
• Opportunity to contribute to high-profile work that matters for Lower Hutt Te Awakairangi

About Us

Kia noho mai tēnei tāone hei pou herenga waka, hei pou herenga kaupapa, hei wāhi whai hua ki hōna iwi. At Hutt City Council our vision is to build a connected, resilient and inclusive city where all of our people thrive.

Why Work Here?

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.

Working here is truly rewarding, knowing across all our roles, we're making a genuine difference to Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt. We're a team of leaders, planners, connectors and creators designing our future alongside our communities.

Tūhono mai. Come join us!

Applications close 19 October 2026.