Senior Project Manager - Strategic Cross-Organisational Projects

Lead high-impact projects that shape the future of Waipā District.

Waipā District Council is seeking a Senior Project Manager to deliver strategic, cross-organisational projects that support Council's functions. This role is pivotal in ensuring initiatives such as the Long-Term Plan (LTP), Annual Plan, and key strategies are delivered effectively, aligned with statutory requirements, and support long-term community outcomes. This is currently set for a two year fixed-term contract.

Why this role matters now

In March 2024, Council made the decision to pause the development of the 2024-34 Long Term Plan (LTP) and instead deliver an Enhanced Annual Plan for 2024/25. Since then, the 2025-34 LTP has been under development and was adopted in July 2025 - but that's just the beginning.

As a result of this shift, the development timelines for both the 2026/27 Annual Plan and the 2027-37 Long Term Plan will be more condensed than usual. In addition to this, we have recently kickstarted the review of our Growth Strategy, Waipā 2050 and are in the early stages of planning for the implementation of Ahu Ake, Waipā Community Spatial Plan.

The scope and scale of non-capital projects across Council has grown significantly. These cross-organisational initiatives require coordination across multiple departments, stakeholders, and external partners. Projects are increasingly complex, involving multiple disciplines and specialist input.

This role is critical in providing strong, structured project management to ensure Council's strategic projects remain on track, aligned with statutory requirements, and deliver the outcomes our community expect.

What you'll do

• Lead high-impact projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Co-ordinate and integrate the various components of council-wide planning initiatives, including the LTP, Annual Plan, and Activity Management Plans.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks through proactive management and resolution of issues.
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including timelines, budgets, and reports, and provide regular updates to governance groups.
• Ensure project outcomes align with Council's strategic direction, statutory obligations, and community priorities.

Stakeholder relationships

• Build strong working relationships across Council teams and with elected members to enable collaborative project delivery.
• Lead structured meetings and discussions by preparing agendas, recording minutes, and capturing agreed decisions, actions, and outcomes.
• Facilitate open communication and collaboration between project team members and the wider organisation.
• Seek input from the executive team and elected members at key points throughout projects.

What we're looking for

Professional and technical qualifications:

• Formal Project Management qualification or certification is essential.
• Desirable: understanding of local government planning and statutory frameworks.

Relevant work experience:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in project management, including delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience working collaboratively across diverse internal teams.
• Strong track record in stakeholder management, including engagement with senior leaders.
• Desirable: experience in local government or a similar political environment, with exposure to council processes, governance, and community engagement.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work on strategic initiatives that have a real impact on our community, with a supportive and collaborative team at Waipā District Council.

For more information, please contact David Dugmore, P&C Business Partner, at david.dugmore@waipadc.govt.nz.

To apply for this job, please go online to www.joinourteam.co.nz and enter the job code: 37460LGC.

Applications close: Sunday, 9 November at 10:00pm.