Ready to make a lasting impact? Te Kaunihera o ngā Roto o Rotorua | Rotorua Lakes Council is your platform for meaningful change. With a team of over 400 staff, we're committed to forging a better tomorrow for the Rotorua community. In the heart of this thriving city, you'll find yourself immersed in natural wonders like geothermal pools and ngāwha | geysers, while enjoying the exhilarating mountain biking scene. Join a council that thrives on collaboration with Te Arawa, our local iwi, and embraces biculturalism at its core. From the Rotorua Lakefront Redevelopment to hosting the world-renowned Crankworx festival, you'll play a vital role in shaping our city's future. Start your journey with us today!
Kei ā koe te toki, kei ā koe te kuru, whaoa te anamata! You have the chisel, you have the mallet! Join us and carve the future today!
Shape the Future of Water Services in Rotorua and Beyond
Rotorua Lakes Council is proud to be at the forefront of transformative change in how local water services are delivered. We are seeking a highly skilled Programme Manager to lead Rotorua’s contribution to the “Local Water Done Well” initiative — an exciting collaborative study with neighbouring councils exploring the potential of a multi-council water services entity.
This is your opportunity to play a critical leadership role in shaping how water services could be governed and delivered in our region for generations to come. You’ll work in close partnership with, council executives, and technical experts across multiple districts to drive robust, transparent, and evidence-based decision-making. Your work will ensure that strategic, legislative, and regulatory objectives are aligned and that the programme reflects the priorities and aspirations of all participating partners.
As Programme Manager, you will take the lead for Rotorua Lakes Council in coordinating the programme’s development, driving stakeholder engagement, and managing complex inter-agency relationships. Your ability to bring people together, navigate political landscapes, and deliver results will be essential to the success of this ambitious project.
To succeed in this role, you’ll bring a strong background in business strategy, financial analytics, or programme leadership — ideally within the public or infrastructure sectors. You’ll be familiar with council-controlled organisations and water service delivery models and bring a confident, collaborative, and highly organised approach to programme leadership. Just as important is your ability to build trust, influence outcomes, and communicate with clarity and purpose.
At Rotorua Lakes Council, we’re passionate about serving our communities, and our people are central to achieving the high-quality services and outcomes we’re known for. We’re proud of our diverse district, our Te Arawa partnerships, and our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and forward-thinking workplace.
If you're ready to make a tangible difference in the future of local government water services — and want to be part of a team that’s motivated, collaborative, and community-focused — then we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and help us ensure water is done well — for our people, our region, and our future.
Click this link to view the position description for this role
Te Kaunihera o nga Roto o Rotorua (Rotorua Lakes Council) is committed to working in partnership with Te Arawa, our local iwi. We aspire to being a bicultural organisation and we value staff who speak te reo Maori, have an appreciation of Maori values, and a working knowledge of tikanga Maori.
Sound like you? Click the Apply Now button below.