Napier’s parks, reserves and open spaces play an important role in shaping how our community lives, connects and experiences the city. From neighbourhood reserves and playgrounds to cemeteries and future open space development, these places contribute to wellbeing, environmental resilience, recreation and city identity.

Napier City Council is looking for an experienced and forward-thinking leader to shape the future direction of our open spaces network. This is a strategic leadership role focused on planning, asset stewardship, service performance, and ensuring our open spaces continue to meet the evolving needs of our community.

This role will suit someone who combines strong parks and open spaces expertise with the ability to lead improvement, influence outcomes, and build capability within a developing team environment. You’ll bring the confidence to work across strategy, operations, asset management, and capital delivery while partnering closely with operational teams and stakeholders across Council.

You’ll also play a key role in strengthening how service levels are defined, measured, and delivered ensuring Council has clear visibility of performance, value, community outcomes, and future investment needs.

Why Join us?

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of one of Napier’s most visible and valued community portfolios. You’ll join a Council focused on building connected, resilient and people-focused places while contributing to meaningful long-term outcomes for the city.

If you’re someone who enjoys balancing strategy with delivery, values strong relationships, and brings genuine expertise in parks and open spaces, we’d love to hear from you.

Te Āheinga - The Opportunity

In this role, you will:

Lead the strategic direction and long-term planning for Napier’s open spaces network, including parks, reserves, playgrounds and cemeteries.
Drive the development of key strategies and plans, including open space planning, reserve management plans, cemetery growth planning, and water conservation initiatives.
Provide leadership and oversight of open space assets, ensuring sustainable, fit-for-purpose outcomes for the community.
Partner closely with operational delivery teams to ensure agreed service levels, maintenance standards, and community expectations are achieved.
Monitor and report on service performance, asset outcomes, budgets, and levels of service to Council and key stakeholders.
Support the successful delivery of capital programmes, ensuring projects are well-planned, effectively managed, and delivered on time and within budget.
Foster strong relationships across Council, iwi, contractors, consultants, community groups, and industry partners.
Lead and support a small, developing team, creating clarity, capability, and a collaborative team culture focused on continuous improvement.

He kōrero mōhou - About You

We’re looking for a leader who brings both technical credibility in parks and open spaces and the ability to navigate strategic and organisational complexity.

You will ideally have:

Significant experience in parks, recreation, open spaces, or local government environments.
A tertiary qualification in parks management, recreation, environmental management, tourism, or a related discipline.
Strong understanding of open space planning, asset management, service delivery, and long-term infrastructure planning.
Experience working within local government and confidence operating within political and public-facing environments.
Demonstrated experience overseeing capital works or infrastructure programmes, with a focus on delivery, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, contracts, and service performance frameworks.
Proven leadership capability, including the ability to guide, mentor, and build capability within teams.
The confidence to provide informed advice and act as a key interface between operational delivery, strategy, and governance.
A collaborative, empathetic, and adaptable leadership style, with the ability to bring people on the journey while driving positive change.
A proactive mindset with the ability to think differently, challenge the status quo, and help shape a growing function.

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 permanent, full-time opportunity working 40 hours per week, Monday–Friday. You’ll be based in Napier CBD.

The annual salary package for this role is $154,500-$181,800 (including KiwiSaver), with the final offer dependent on your skills and experience.

We will be interviewing applications as we receive them and may close the role when we have found the right person.

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 criminal background checks, with some roles requiring health screening and drug & alcohol testing). 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 Open Spaces