Team Leader, Advice and Improvement

Wellington City Council; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working

Health and wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Learning and development

Job summary

Wellington City Council is seeking an experienced leader to head the Advice and Improvement team within the Planning and Development Group. This senior role sits at the heart of decision-making and partners with senior leaders to drive improvements.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team focused on business improvement, programme delivery, organisational change, governance, and risk management, ensuring strategy translates into tangible outcomes for communities.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading business improvement, transformation, programme delivery, or strategic advisory functions.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and developing high-performing people.
• Strong knowledge of governance, assurance, risk management, and performance frameworks.
• Experience delivering complex programmes, projects, and organisational change initiatives.
• Ability to influence and partner effectively with senior leaders and stakeholders in politically aware environments.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capability.
• Experience managing contracts, procurement activities, budgets, and external suppliers.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and building organisational capability.
• Knowledge of local government, planning, regulatory, or development environments would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing improvement, project, change, and business analysis team.
• Provide strategic advice to support informed decision-making.
• Drive business improvement initiatives to enhance customer outcomes and performance.
• Lead significant programmes and organisational change initiatives across the Group.
• Oversee governance, assurance, performance reporting, and risk management.
• Manage procurement, contracts, and external partnerships.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

Programme delivery

Risk management

Contract management

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Job description

Wellington is growing, changing, and facing increasingly complex opportunities and challenges. From shaping how our city develops to improving the services we deliver to communities, our Planning and Development Group plays a critical role in creating a thriving, resilient, and sustainable capital. This is an opportunity to lead the team that helps make that happen.

We're looking for an experienced and strategic leader to join our Advice and Improvement team. Reporting to the Manager Advice and Improvement, you'll lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for business improvement, programme delivery, organisational change, governance, performance, risk, and strategic advice across the Planning & Development Group.

This is a highly influential role that sits at the heart of decision-making, partnering with senior leaders to drive improvement initiatives, deliver complex programmes, support organisational change, and ensure the Group is positioned to achieve its strategic priorities.

Āu ake mahi | What you'll do

You’ll provide leadership across a broad portfolio of work, including:

• Leading and developing a high-performing team of improvement, project, change, and business analysis professionals.
• Providing strategic advice and insights to support informed decision-making.
• Driving business improvement initiatives that enhance customer outcomes, operational performance, and regulatory services.
• Leading significant programmes, projects, and organisational change initiatives across the Group.
• Overseeing governance, assurance, performance reporting, and risk management activities.
• Managing procurement processes, consultant contracts, and external partnerships.
• Building strong relationships with senior leaders, elected members, government agencies, Mana Whenua, and sector stakeholders.
• Championing a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration.

Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

You’ll be a trusted advisor and people leader with a proven track record of delivering results in complex organisations.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience leading business improvement, transformation, programme delivery, or strategic advisory functions.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and developing high-performing people.
• Strong knowledge of governance, assurance, risk management, and performance frameworks.
• Experience delivering complex programmes, projects, and organisational change initiatives.
• The ability to influence and partner effectively with senior leaders and stakeholders in politically aware environments.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capability.
• Experience managing contracts, procurement activities, budgets, and external suppliers.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and building organisational capability.
• Knowledge of local government, planning, regulatory, or development environments would be advantageous.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

We want your application to enable you to portray the real you. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the advert through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We welcome applications from all people and like our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

Accessibility Support:

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing: [e-mail]

Applications close 25 October 2026. Please note that we may engage with applicants prior to the vacancy closing and/or close applications ahead of this date so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

All applications must be submitted online and must have the right to work in New Zealand – we will not accept emailed applications.

Pre-employment Checks: All employees must undergo a Criminal Conviction Check, the results of which will be held on your employee file if employed.