This is a key leadership opportunity to shape how Napier City Council plans, negotiates, and manages its contractual arrangements across capital projects, renewals, maintenance, and operational services. Your expertise will directly influence contract governance, supplier performance, delivery certainty, and value for money across a complex and growing portfolio. The Council’s investment in critical projects is increasing every year, we want to ensure we deliver the best commercial outcomes for our ratepayers.

Napier City Council have a well-established Procurement team, and to bring further rigour, structure and maturity to how we manage our contracts, we are looking for the services of a senior Contracts Lead role. This will be the Council's senior specialist for contract management and commercial governance, setting the standard for how contracts are structured, administered, governed, and managed throughout their lifecycle. Working within the EPMO, you'll partner closely with delivery teams to ensure contracts are robust, risks are actively managed, suppliers perform, and commercial outcomes support successful project and operational delivery.

This is a role for someone who enjoys balancing strategy with action. You'll work closely with internal stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and industry partners to create smarter, more efficient ways of working while ensuring effective contract governance, compliance, supplier performance and commercial outcomes remain front of mind. Alongside this, you'll lead and mentor a small team, creating a collaborative and high-performing environment where people are supported to succeed.

Te Āheinga - The Opportunity

In this role you'll:

• Lead the end-to-end contract management function across Council, from contract strategy and formation through to delivery, variations, and close-out.

• Set and uplift Council's contract management frameworks, tools, templates, and governance practices.

• Develop and enhance contract frameworks, supplier panels, alliances, and contract delivery models.

• Lead contract governance, negotiations, risk management and supplier performance across Council's contract portfolio.

• Partner with project, asset, and operational teams to improve contract accountability, governance and delivery confidence.

• Lead contract assurance and audit activity, including supporting and responding to contract management audits and funding assurance requirements (e.g. NZTA), and driving corrective actions where required.

• Build strong relationships with suppliers, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders to support successful contract outcomes.

• Lead, mentor and support a capable contracts team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

He kōrero mōhou - About You

• Proven experience leading contract management, contract governance, procurement or commercial delivery within infrastructure, construction, utilities or complex operational environments.

• New Zealand Local Government experience / exposure preferred (worked at other NZ councils).

• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to navigate contract risk, supplier relationships, negotiations and performance outcomes confidently.

• You bring strong contract leadership experience and are confident operating in complex delivery environments. You are practical, commercially astute, and comfortable stepping into detail when required, while also thinking strategically about how contract management practices and governance can continue to evolve.

• Naturally collaborative, with the ability to build trusted relationships across teams, suppliers, contractors, and industry partners.

• A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with an eye for opportunities to improve contract performance, governance, value and organisational outcomes.

• Leadership experience that brings out the best in others through clear direction, support, and coaching.

• A team player in diverse team, that can pivot when situations change?

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 will be based in Napier.

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 – Contracts Lead