People and Culture Manager

• Help shape the future of our Council by leading our people strategies
• Drive our organisation’s workforce direction with the full backing of the Executive Leadership Team
• Be part of a tight-knit, supportive team in a family friendly environment

The organisation

With around 200 staff, the Manawatū District Council is big enough to provide career growth and progression opportunities, but small enough that you can get to know everyone in the team. We’re committed to delivering great services and making a real difference for our community.

Our positive workplace culture is something we’re proud of, and fiercly protect. It’s at the heart of our high performance organisation, with both staff and resident feedback being significantly above the local government benchmarks. But we’ve got lots of room for improvement, and we’re ambitious about what the future looks like – both for us as an organisation, and ultimately for the services we provide to our community.  

The role

Reporting directly to the General Manager – People and Corporate, you will:

• Lead the HR and Safety & Wellbeing functions, and work closely with our Kaitohu Aporei – Māori and the other leaders within the People and Corporate group
• Lead our organisational development, with a focus on leadership programmes and support, customer service improvements and employee engagement
• Use modern approaches to enhancing our employer brand, continuing our DEI efforts and refreshing our people policies and processes
• Work collaboratively with other teams and leaders in the Council to bring the organisational vision to life

Skills and experience

Given this is one of our most senior third-tier roles, you’ll need to be an experienced operator, with:

• Demonstrable strategic thinking skills, along with a pragmatic approach to getting things done
• Outstanding team and project leadership skills
• Exceptional facilitation and training delivery skills
• Competency in te Ao Māori and te reo Māori, or the willingness to learn (bonus points if you could lead our Council waiata/kapahaka group)
• A sense of humour and the ability to win over people from all walks of life
• A tertiary qualification in HR, organisational development or another related area, or equivalent experience

What we’ll offer

• A collaborative, supportive team in a genuinely family-friendly environment
• Professional development opportunities, including leadership support
• A salary in the range of $110-$173k (mid-point $129/$150k depending on level of experience), with 5 weeks’ annual leave

Where we are

If you’re already in the Manawatū, you’ll know how good we have it with a perfect mix of big city attractions in Palmerston North, and lots of smaller towns, villages and rural lifestyle opportunities in the district. We’re a stone’s throw from the sea, the mountain and Wellington is just a couple of hours to the south. We’ve got some of the best schools in the country, a well established university and the region is, we think, one of the best places in New Zealand to raise a family. If you’re looking to leave the grind of the inner city and find a better way of life for your whānau, check out more about the Manawatū here. 

How to apply

Sound like you? Please click the ‘apply’ button below. For a confidential discussion about the role, contact Frances Smorti, General Manager – People and Corporate at frances.smorti@mdc.govt.nz or on 027 202 3625.