Napier City Council is in the midst of an exciting organisational redesign, reshaping how we deliver smarter, more connected services for our community. As part of these changes, we’re building capability and driving innovation across all areas of council — including how we deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable water services.

We are seeking an experienced Head of Water Operations to join our Water Services Directorate on a fixed-term parental leave cover through to February 2026. This role provides the opportunity to step into a pivotal leadership position, ensuring the seamless delivery of water, wastewater, and stormwater services that our community relies on every day.

You’ll oversee multidisciplinary operational teams while also providing strategic leadership to our customer experience function, ensuring services are delivered efficiently, safely, and in full regulatory compliance. This is a chance to lead during an exciting period of transformation, driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and customer focus.

If you’re a proven operational leader with deep expertise in water services, this is your opportunity to make an impact in a dynamic and future-focused environment — even if just for a season.

Te Āheinga - The Opportunity

• Lead the delivery of safe, efficient, and compliant water, wastewater, and stormwater services for Napier.
• Oversee multidisciplinary teams managing treatment, pumping, maintenance, SCADA systems, and trade waste compliance.
• Provide strategic leadership to our customer experience team, ensuring seamless, customer-focused service delivery.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across operations, from asset optimisation to automation initiatives.
• Build strong partnerships with regulators, industry, mana whenua, and the community to support sustainable water management.
• Play a key role in embedding a collaborative, high-performance culture during a period of organisational transformation.
• Take ownership of a complex portfolio with significant operational and strategic influence — all within a supportive and forward-thinking leadership team.

He kōrero mōhou - About You

• Tertiary qualification in Environmental Science, Water Management, or a related field; CPEng or advanced qualifications an advantage.
• Senior leader with 10+ years’ experience in water services, infrastructure operations, or asset management.
• Proven track record in leading large, complex teams and driving operational excellence in high-stakes environments.
• Deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks, with a focus on compliance and safety in water operations.
• Skilled in change leadership, with the ability to inspire teams through periods of transformation.
• Strategic thinker with a customer-first mindset and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Strong relationship builder, confident engaging with regulators, iwi/Māori partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Resilient, adaptable, and ready to make a strong, immediate impact in a fixed-term leadership role.

Ngā painga mōhou - What we Offer

• 5 weeks annual leave after 2 years service
• Discounted Health Insurance Work Scheme + Eye Test Subsidy
• Retailer Discounts + Study assistance
• Employee Assistance Program (OCP)
• Quarterly values awards + Birthday vouchers + Social club
• Free flu vaccinations (annual)
• Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga + NCC Kapa Haka
• Te Reo Māori language classes

This is a fixed-term position covering parental leave from September 2025 to 1 February 2026, with the possibility of an earlier end date should the incumbent return to work sooner.

You will be based in Napier and work 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday.

The annual salary package for this role is $168,100-$197,800 (including KiwiSaver), with the final offer depending on your skills and experience.

Applications for this role close on Friday, 26 September 2025, but we will be interviewing applications as we receive them and may close the role when we have found the right person.

Kia mōhio mai - Please note

Napier City Council is moving toward a joint regional water entity under the Local Water Done Well reform. This means future changes to how water services are governed and delivered are likely, including potential shifts in organisational structure, reporting lines, and regional collaboration. Applicants should be comfortable working in a dynamic environment and open to evolving responsibilities as part of a larger, regional approach to water management.

He kōrero mō Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri - About NCC

At Napier City Council, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and work to make our hiring process fair and accessible. If you need any support or adjustments during your application or interview, let us know—we’re happy to help!

Our success is grounded in strong partnerships with Mana Whenua and Iwi, supported by our Māori Partnerships team, Te Waka Rangapū, which builds cultural capability through education and training.

Before you join, you’ll need to complete pre-employment checks (including drug testing, with some roles requiring health screening). As an NCC employee, you may also be called on to support Civil Defence emergencies when our community needs us most.

Please visit Napier City Council Careers website to see full job description

Job Description – Head of Water Operations