Manager Community Partnerships

E ngā iwi, e ngā karangatanga huri noa i te motu, tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. He īnoi tēnei ki a koe. Tono mai ki tētahi tūnga ki te Kaunihera o Ōtautahi

About the team | Ko te rōpū nei

The Community Partnerships team sits within the Citizens & Community Group and plays a critical role in delivering Council’s strategic priorities through strong relationships with communities, partners, and stakeholders.

We work city‑wide and locally to enable positive community outcomes through funding, community development, resilience, safety, accessibility, partnerships, policy leadership, and operational delivery — always balancing community needs with Council’s wider strategic direction.

About the role | Ko te mahi nei

The Manager of Community Partnerships is a senior strategic and operational role expected to build trust and confidence at the highest levels within the Council organisation and partner organisations. It is responsible for leading organisational-wide projects and initiatives as and when necessary.

As Manager Community Partnerships, you will lead a diverse and high‑impact team responsible for delivering Council’s Community Partnerships and Planning outcomes across Christchurch.

This is a senior leadership role where you will:

• Lead, support, and develop a team of experienced managers and advisors, fostering a high‑performance, solution‑focused culture
• Operationalise Council’s strategic priorities and levels of service related to community partnerships, planning, and development
• Oversee the delivery of community funding (approximately $32M annually), graffiti services, and city‑wide community development initiatives
• Build and maintain strong internal and external relationships, including with elected members, government agencies, NGOs, and key sector partners
• Provide high‑quality strategic and operational advice, including written reports to Council, the Executive, and external stakeholders
• Lead planning, monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement to ensure outcomes are delivered effectively and transparently
• Manage budgets, resources, and risks while ensuring health and safety responsibilities are met

Your work will have a direct impact on shaping inclusive, safe, and connected communities across Christchurch.

About you | Ko Koe Tēnei

You will be an experienced, values‑driven leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys working at the intersection of strategy, community, and governance.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience (ideally 10+ years at an operational management level) in a complex organisation
• Demonstrated capability leading teams through change and managing competing priorities
• Strong strategic and operational planning, budgeting, and reporting skills
• Experience in community development, partnerships, policy, or related fields
• Excellent relationship‑building skills and political acumen, with the ability to work effectively with elected officials and senior stakeholders
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• A relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. management, social sciences, business or similar)
• Experience within local government or an understanding of public sector decision‑making processes will be well regarded.

What's in it for you? He aha ngā hua ki a koe?

Want to be involved in shaping your City? Here at the Council we know our strength comes from our people, working together as one team to create results. When you join us, you're getting involved first hand, and contributing to crafting the Christchurch community. You will also benefit from:

• Access to training programmes, workshops, and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements - WFH, adjustable start and finish times, option to purchase extra leave.
• Collaboration - exposure to wider areas of the organisation
• Benefits - a variety of benefits for Council staff from health schemes to retail discounts.

If this sounds like an interesting opportunity, you think you have what it takes and want to get involved in shaping our City then please apply today.

Additional Information | Ko ētahi atu kōrero:

At the Christchurch City Council, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways.

We understand that recruitment processes can be challenging. If you require any support or adjustments to help you put your best foot forward, please reach out to us at jobs@ccc.govt.nz

• Hours of work - Fixed Term/Secondmenent - 26 months - End Date 30th June 2028
• Location - This position is primarily based at 53 Hereford Street, Christchurch
• Salary - The salary band for this position goes from $135,907 p.a. to $151,008 p.a per annum based on a 40 hour week. Starting salaries will be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, and relativities both, within the immediate team and in the broader organisation for the same or similar roles.
• Closing Date - 10th June 2026

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.