Senior Advisor at Auckland Council

Auckland Council; Auckland; On-site; NZD 106,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland Council invites applications for a Senior Advisor - Value for Money to join the Value for Money Unit and help transform performance and value for money across the Council Group. You will work with senior leaders and stakeholders to turn complex data into clear insights to support high-quality decisions.

With at least seven years in analytical or advisory roles, you will lead reviews across Council services, influence critical decisions, and contribute to continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• You are an experienced advisor, analyst or consultant who can turn data into actionable recommendations.
• Strong analytical mindset and ability to work with ambiguity.
• You can engage with senior executives and elected members effectively.
• Proven stakeholder engagement and relationship management across all levels.
• Experience in financial, commercial, procurement, property or business performance environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support value-for-money reviews across Council and CCOs
• Identify opportunities to improve performance, cost-effectiveness, and service quality
• Analyze data from multiple sources to generate meaningful insights
• Prepare reports, presentations and advice for senior leaders and elected members
• Manage project deliverables within scope, budget, and timelines
• Facilitate workshops and drive problem-solving and decision-making
• Build relationships across the Council Group with finance, procurement, legal and risk teams

Skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Project delivery

Communication skills

Influencing

Education

Tertiary qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

This Full time on site position offers great opportunities for career growth. What if your next recommendation could transform how Auckland Council delivers value to 1.7 million Aucklanders? Love diving into data, challenging the status quo, and driving better outcomes at scale? If you enjoy asking \"why\" and uncovering smarter ways of working, this could be your next challenge.

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join Auckland Council's Value for Money Unit and play a key role in helping the Council Group deliver better outcomes for Auckland through improved performance, service quality and value for money. As a Senior Advisor - Value for Money, you will work across a diverse range of council services, undertaking reviews that challenge existing approaches and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness, efficiency and value. Working closely with senior leaders, elected members and stakeholders across the organisation, you'll combine analytical thinking, commercial acumen and strong engagement skills to transform complex information into meaningful insights that support high-quality decision-making. This role sits within the Group Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships department and provides a unique opportunity to influence strategic improvement initiatives that have a lasting impact across the Auckland Council Group.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and supporting value for money reviews across Council and Council-Controlled Organisations
• Identifying opportunities to improve performance, service quality and cost-effectiveness through robust analysis and evidence-based recommendations
• Combining and critically analysing data and information from multiple sources to generate meaningful insights
• Preparing clear, compelling reports, presentations and advice for senior leaders and elected members
• Managing project deliverables to agreed scope, budget and timelines
• Facilitating workshops and discussions that support problem-solving and decision-making
• Building strong relationships across the Council Group and leveraging specialist expertise from finance, procurement, legal and risk teams
• Contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and organisational excellence

He kōrero mōu: About you

You are an experienced advisor, analyst or consultant who enjoys working in complex environments and solving challenging business problems. You have a strong analytical mindset and can confidently work with ambiguity, turning information, data and stakeholder perspectives into actionable recommendations. You are equally comfortable engaging with senior executives and elected members as you are diving deep into data and performance information. Through your strong communication and influencing skills, you can build trust, challenge thinking constructively and help stakeholders achieve better outcomes.

We’ll also be looking for:

• A minimum of 7 years' experience in analytical, advisory, consulting, performance improvement or related roles
• Demonstrated ability to undertake critical analysis and provide insights and recommendations that improve organisational performance
• Experience in financial, commercial, procurement, property or business performance environments
• Strong project delivery skills and experience applying project methodologies
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in easy-to-understand formats
• Proven stakeholder engagement, influencing and relationship management capability across all organisational levels
• Experience facilitating workshops and driving consensus among diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• A relevant tertiary qualification

Auckland Council honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, values te ao Māori and is committed to being responsive to the needs and aspirations of Māori. We are looking for someone who is willing to build their understanding and capability in te ao Māori, can confidently use basic te reo Māori in professional settings, and understands the value of tikanga Māori in supporting positive outcomes for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

• This is an opportunity to join a team that helps shape how Auckland Council delivers services for the future.
• You’ll work on significant organisation-wide initiatives, partner with senior leaders and elected representatives, and contribute to meaningful improvements that deliver lasting value for Aucklanders.
• If you’re motivated by solving complex problems, influencing strategic decisions and driving continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications close: 12th October 26

Salary range: $105,579 - $136,631

Why Join Auckland Council?

Help shape the future of Tāmaki Makaurau. At Auckland Council, you’ll have the opportunity to work on projects that make a real difference to the lives of Aucklanders. As part of the Value for Money Unit, your work will directly influence how services are delivered across New Zealand’s largest council, helping ensure public resources are used effectively to create better outcomes for our communities. This is more than just an advisory role. You’ll collaborate with senior leaders, elected members, and subject matter experts across a diverse range of services, tackling complex challenges and driving initiatives that have organisation-wide impact. In return, you’ll join a team that values innovation, continuous improvement, and evidence-based decision making. You’ll be supported to grow your professional capability, expand your influence, and contribute to meaningful work that leaves a lasting legacy for Auckland.

What you'll enjoy:

• Working on high-profile projects that shape the future of Auckland
• Exposure to senior decision-makers and strategic initiatives
• A collaborative, values-driven culture focused on continuous improvement
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth
• The chance to make a tangible difference for Aucklanders every day

If you’re motivated by solving complex problems, influencing strategic decisions, and creating lasting value, Auckland Council offers a unique opportunity to make your mark. We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible. View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits HERE

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.