Strategic Project Lead (Fixed Term)

Napier City Council; Napier; On-site; NZD 115,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program (OCP)

Quarterly values awards

Birthday vouchers

Social club

Free flu vaccinations

Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga

NCC Kapa Haka

Te Reo Māori language classes

Job summary

Napier City Council is recruiting a fixed-term, full-time Project Lead to deliver complex, high‑value strategic initiatives across the council and wider community. You will own projects from concept through delivery, coordinating across council, consultants, mana whenua, and government bodies to achieve outcomes that matter to Napier.

You’ll bring strong governance, risk and budgeting capability, with excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Minimum tertiary qualification in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience delivering complex, high‑value projects with governance and risk oversight.
• Strong financial/conmercial acumen including budgeting and contract oversight.
• Excellent communication and relationship skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker capable of navigating ambiguity and aligning delivery with priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead major strategic projects from planning through delivery.
• Oversee governance, budgets, risk, procurement, and project performance.
• Build relationships across Council, consultants, mana whenua, and community stakeholders.
• Champion collaborative approaches such as co-design and co-governance.
• Navigate complex projects while balancing competing priorities.
• Deliver projects with lasting impact on Napier and its community.

Skills

Governance & risk management

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & forecasting

Communication

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Education

Tertiary qualification in project management, engineering, planning, public administration, or related field

Postgraduate qualifications or PMP/MSP certification

Job description

Join Napier City Council in this 12-month fixed‑term opportunity where you'll lead the delivery of complex, high‑value strategic projects that support Council priorities and deliver meaningful outcomes for our community.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of projects from concept through to delivery, working across Council and alongside consultants, mana whenua, contractors, government agencies, and community stakeholders. You'll bring together people, priorities, and workstreams to keep projects moving, navigate complexity, and ensure successful delivery.

Whether it's helping deliver major community infrastructure, supporting long‑term strategic initiatives, or driving projects that improve how we serve our community, you'll play an important role in shaping Napier's future. Bring your project leadership expertise to a collaborative environment where your work will leave a lasting impact.

Te Āheinga - The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to lead complex, high‑value projects that support Council priorities and make a lasting difference for Napier. You'll work across a diverse portfolio of strategic initiatives, collaborating with people across Council and the wider community to deliver successful outcomes.

• Lead major strategic projects from planning through to successful delivery.

• Oversee governance, budgets, risk, procurement, and project performance.

• Build strong relationships across Council, consultants, mana whenua, and community stakeholders.

• Champion collaborative approaches that support meaningful co-design and co-governance.

• Navigate complex projects with confidence while balancing competing priorities.

• Help deliver projects that will have a lasting impact on Napier and its community.

He kōrero mōhou - About You

• A tertiary qualification in project management, engineering, planning, public administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

• Significant experience delivering complex, high‑value projects, with proven capability in governance, risk, and stakeholder management

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and contract oversight

• Excellent communication and relationship skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Council, mana whenua, consultants, and community stakeholders

• Strategic thinker with the ability to navigate ambiguity, solve problems, and align delivery with organisational priorities

• Desirable: Postgraduate qualifications or professional project management certification (e.g. PMP, MSP)

Ngā painga mōhou - What we Offer

• Employee Assistance Program (OCP)

• Quarterly values awards + Birthday vouchers + Social club

• Free flu vaccinations (annual)

• Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga + NCC Kapa Haka

• Te Reo Māori language classes

This is a 12-month fixed term, full time opportunity working 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday. You will be based in Napier

The annual salary package for this role is $115,239 - $128,796 (including KiwiSaver), with the final offer depending on your skills and experience.

We will be interviewing applications as we receive them and may close the role when we have found the right person.

He kōrero mō Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri - About NCC

At Napier City Council, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and work to make our hiring process fair and accessible. If you need any support or adjustments during your application or interview, let us know—we’re happy to help!

Our success is grounded in strong partnerships with Mana Whenua and Iwi, supported by our Māori Partnerships team, Te Waka Rangapū, which builds cultural capability through education and training.

Before you join, you’ll need to complete pre-employment checks (including criminal background checks, with some roles requiring health screening and drug & alcohol testing). As an NCC employee, you may also be called on to support Civil Defence emergencies when our community needs us most.