Manager Consenting, Strategy and Growth

• Lead a people‑centred consenting function
• Help shape a modern, connected, community‑focused regulatory system
• Senior leadership role based on the Kāpiti Coast, Wellington region

The opportunity | He angitūtanga

 Kāpiti Coast District Council is focused on lifting its regulatory performance and needs you!

Council is making some changes to how they operate across their local regulatory system, which is led from their Strategy and Growth Group. They are focused on ensuring that Council is well positioned to:

• Make the most of the exciting growth opportunities facing Kapiti, with more than $2 billion in investment planned over the next 5-10 years, and that they are prepared for the increase in volume of work expected from this pipeline.
• Pivot in response to the plethora of rolling central government reforms which demand greater flexibility in process, and clear expectation to reduce the time and cost of regulation.
• Ensure they implement their communities direction that the right people pay for the right services: ‘growth pays for growth’.

As a whole, there is a need for the Group to provide the community with a simpler and more connected consenting process, and experience. Innovation and adaptability will underpin success.

This key position reports directly to the GM Strategy & Group and is one of six senior managers within the Group who are responsible for the Council’s sustainable development functions and for ensuring there is a drive for ‘good growth’ in Kāpiti. This role:

• Sits alongside the GM of the Group and is accountable for the professional, effective and efficient implementation and administration of Council’s local regulatory system ‘delivery’ functions which includes:

a) building responsibilities, as required by the Building Act 2004 and other relevant legislation; and

b) resource management responsibilities, as required by the Resource Management Act and other relevant legislation.

• Will work alongside the interim ‘Transition Manager’ to ensure a smooth and effective transition of existing consenting functions into one new team.
• Ensures that Council’s Consenting functions remain relevant and resilient to meet the needs of the community and direction set by central government; and that the Group provides effective planning, organisation, management and leadership within the local regulatory system to deliver to national system directives.
• Provides Strategic Leadership, as part of the Group’s Senior Management Team, and builds the capability of Tier-4 leaders and other staff.
• Will (in collaboration with the Transition Manager) drive continuous improvement in consenting process and practice to lift productivity and impact.

Why work with Kāpiti Coast District Council?

You’ll enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including:

• A positive, ‘learning’ culture, and the commitment of a high-performing Executive Team – because working in an empowering and ‘good vibe’ environment matters.
• Flexible working and dependant leave – because we know that it’s important to get the work/life balance right.
• Free on-site parking – say goodbye to parking hassles.
• Free access to pools – dive into fun.
• Council staff discounts – because who doesn’t love a good deal?

About you | He kōrero mōu

The GM of the Group is looking for a hard-hitting and experienced senior leader to shift and lift the performance of the Council's core consenting functions – she’s particularly interested in someone with:

• Non-negotiable: sound commercial and practical experience of regulatory effectiveness from working in a relevant role in the private sector (ie building or planning or a similar industry).
• Strong experience in managing a regulatory function in a local government entity. Familiarity with the Kāpiti Coast preferred.
• An in-depth understanding of relevant legislation (including the Building Act 2004), NZ Building code, NZ Building standards, Building accreditation regulations, and Resource Management Act).
• Extensive and evidenced technical expertise in building or planning, and experience in assessing the merits of related decisions, end-to-end processes and practice.
• Experience in lifting a building or planning functions maturity including engagement in external audit processes such as IANZ; and in quality assurance, financial management, and operational requirements for a building and consent service function and team.
• Ability to identify, plan and execute responses to organisational strategic priorities, adopting a ‘stewardship’ approach to embedding and implementing key strategies.
• Extensive local networks and existing relationships with stakeholders in the building or planning industries relevant to the Council’s local regulatory system.
• Strong experience in leading people, teams and/or Groups in an industry relevant to implementing Resource Management or Building Act activity.
• Ability to identify risks and take appropriate action to minimise the impact before a problem escalates.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in building or resource management planning or similar (or equivalent experience and expertise from employment). May hold membership or eligibility for membership of NZPI.

This will be a demanding role, with high impact, and is well positioned for an experienced operator that’s looking for their next challenge. So, if this grabbed your attention and it sounds like you, stop scrolling and start typing - we’re really keen to you hear from you.

Please note, we are working at pace to get the right person so will be reviewing applications as they come in.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand. Please note preferred candidates are required to undergo pre-employment checks including drug and alcohol screening and Police checks.

KA KATI NGĀ TONO/ APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday 1 March 2026

MŌ TE TONO, MŌ TE TIROTIRO TĀTAI TŪRANGA / APPLY OR VIEW THE POSITION DESCRIPTION: www.jacksonstone.co.nz

TAUPĀNGA /REFERENCE: BH-11536