Senior Advisor Social Innovation (West)

Auckland Council; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working conditions

Well-being focus

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Auckland Council’s Social Innovation West is seeking a Senior Advisor to lead complex social innovation programmes that boost livelihoods and community wealth in west Auckland. You’ll draw on data, lived experience and partnerships to shape strategy, scale models and attract investment.

You’ll build trusted relationships with iwi, government, business and community leaders, provide strategic advice to elected members, and travel between our CBD and Henderson offices as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional expertise with at least eight years’ experience leading complex programmes.
• Strong networks within west Auckland communities.
• Understanding te reo Māori me ōna tikanga Māori and ability to engage with Māori and Pasifika whānau.
• Experience in large, complex, multidisciplinary organisations and a NZ driver license.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, prioritisation and delivery of social innovation initiatives addressing systemic challenges.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and quality assurance to advisors and project staff.
• Develop trusted strategic relationships with boards, iwi, government, businesses and senior leaders.
• Provide high-quality strategic advice to elected members and stakeholders, identifying investment opportunities.
• Design and scale innovative models using data and lived experience, sharing insights for learning.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decision making

Policy influence

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional expertise

Job description

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• Lead innovative initiatives that create lasting social and economic change
• Build community wealth and improve outcomes for west Auckland whānau
• Influence systems through strategic partnerships, insights and lived experience
• Salary between $110K - 120K

Social Innovation supports communities across south and west Auckland to become more prosperous and resilient places where tamariki and whānau can thrive. As Senior Advisor, Social Innovation West, you will provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of initiatives focused on improving livelihoods, building community wealth and strengthening economic prosperity in west Auckland. Drawing on data, lived experience and community insights, you'll identify opportunities to influence systems, shape strategy and develop innovative approaches that can be scaled across Auckland Council and beyond.

• Lead the design, prioritisation and delivery of complex social innovation initiatives that address systemic social and economic challenges and create meaningful outcomes for west Auckland communities.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and quality assurance to advisors and project staff, helping to build capability across the wider Social Innovation team.
• Develop trusted strategic relationships with local boards, iwi, central government, businesses, community organisations and senior leaders across the council whānau.
• Provide high-quality strategic advice to elected members and internal and external stakeholders, while identifying opportunities to attract investment and establish impactful partnerships.
• Design and scale innovative models informed by contemporary economic thinking, data and lived experience, while capturing and sharing insights to strengthen practice and support wider organisational learning

Please the location of this role will require travel between our CBD Office and our office out Henderson. We are looking for a candidate flexible to travel between both locations.

You’ll be a strategic and analytical thinker with a strong track record of developing innovative programmes that contribute to meaningful, system-wide change. Comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity and shifting priorities, you'll bring political awareness, sound business judgement and the ability to make well-informed decisions while managing multiple initiatives at pace. You will understand and empathise with the experiences of communities affected by inequity and discrimination, including Māori and Pasifika, sole-parent whānau and people receiving income support.

You’ll be a credible and inspiring leader who can build trusted relationships across government, business and community sectors. Your highly developed interpersonal skills will enable you to connect effectively with Māori and Pasifika whānau and 'aiga, senior decision-makers and a broad range of partners. You'll be comfortable working collaboratively and independently, and you'll carefully capture data, insights and learnings to support evaluation, communication and continuous improvement.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional expertise, together with at least eight years' relevant experience and a strong record of leading complex programmes.
• Established networks and trusted relationships within west Auckland communities, particularly among the communities this role is designed to support.
• A good understanding of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga Māori, along with the cultural capability to engage confidently and respectfully with Māori and Pasifika whānau and 'aiga.
• Proven experience working successfully within a large, complex and multidisciplinary organisation, along with a current New Zealand driver license.

At Auckland Council, you will join a dynamic, supportive environment where your mahi (work) will directly impact the lives of over 1.7 million Aucklanders. This role is also an opportunity to build new skills and learn about social innovation and the team, while contributing to meaningful outcomes for our communities.

We offer flexible working conditions, a focus on well-being, and a culture of continuous improvement. We are proud to be recognised for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are accredited by GenderTick, a signatory of the Pride Pledge. These commitments reflect our ongoing efforts to create a workplace where all staff feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. Together, we can create a Tāmaki Makaurau we can all be proud of.

As part of our organisation, please view a range of our: benefits

Applications close: Wednesday 16 September 2026

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.