Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato (Waikato District Council) serves the Waikato District which covers more than 400,000 hectares (418.893ha). It borders Hamilton City from the north, east and west. There are 2,422 kilometres of roads which you can travel throughout the district.
Our Head office in Ngaaruawaahia is an open plan hot desking environment, it includes a collab space as well as unique areas to work or meet with colleagues, Waikato River walks and the chance to hit the Hakarimatas on your lunch break. We also have an onsite cafeteria, free parking and work-life balance.
At Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato you will find a welcoming and inclusive workplace that supports, challenges and encourages you to stay continually ahead of the game.
We have an opportunity for a Business Change Manager to join our Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) for a fixed term of 1 year through to July 2026.
This role is all about helping our people navigate change successfully. You'll lead the people-side of change across a diverse project portfolio — coaching leaders, aligning strategies, building capability, and ensuring change isn't just delivered, but embedded.
You'll play a critical role in shaping how change is understood, communicated, and led across the organisation — bringing clarity, structure, and support to those going through it.
What I do?
- Lead organisation-wide change initiatives that align with Council's strategic direction.
- Support people leaders to confidently lead through change, while also guiding project teams to apply change best practice.
- Design and deliver targeted communications, engagement activities, and training to build understanding and capability.
- Assess change readiness, manage resistance, and provide tools that make change easier to adopt.
- Challenge constructively when needed to keep change people-focused and on track.
- Contribute to building a stronger, more adaptable organisation — one that's ready for what's next.
What I bring?
- Have 7+ years of experience in senior change or project roles in complex environments.
- Confident applying and adapting change frameworks to real-world situations.
- Communicate with clarity and empathy — tailoring messages to suit different audiences.
- Skilled at coaching others, from people leaders to project managers.
- Know when (and how) to push back respectfully in order to protect good change practice.
- Values-led, people-first, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Have an understanding of, or a willingness to learn about, te ao Māori, tikanga, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Why join our team?
We're an organisation embracing flexible working — yes, that means working from home, but more importantly, it means working in ways that deliver the best outcomes for our people and our communities.
The EPMO team you'd join is collaborative, supportive, and values doing good work while enjoying a good laugh. You'll have room to grow, space to influence, and the support to make meaningful change happen.
Additional Information
Location: Ngaaruawahia
Hours of work: 40 hours per week
We have a strong safety culture and as part of this our preferred candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening which includes a medical, alcohol and drug testing.
Submit your application today!
