Communications & Engagement Manager

Overview

Join Selwyn District Council at a transformative period for local government, where you'll have the opportunity to influence how the Council communicates and engages with its communities, supports leadership through change, and fosters trust around important district decisions.

Selwyn is among New Zealand's fastest-growing districts, presenting complex challenges and diverse stakeholders to engage with, offering a chance to contribute meaningfully to community connections.

Key Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and adoption of the Communications & Engagement business partnering model throughout the Council.
• Establish and nurture trusted relationships with leaders, collaborating early in planning communications and engagement activities.
• Manage forward planning, workload prioritization, and resource allocation within the business partner stream.
• Provide strategic counsel on complex, sensitive, and high-profile communications and engagement issues.
• Supervise engagement and consultation planning, ensuring approaches are inclusive, relevant, and audience-centered.
• Develop standardized processes, tools, and workflows that enhance quality while minimizing redundancies.
• Coach and develop Communications and Engagement Advisors, enhancing their strategic partnership skills and confidence.
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, and high-performance team environment.
• Collaborate with the broader Communications & Engagement team to continuously enhance service delivery and value to the Council.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated experience in communications, engagement, marketing, or related strategic advisory roles.
• Track record of leading teams or functions within complex, public-facing organizations.
• Exceptional skills in planning, prioritization, and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Capacity to provide strategic advice with sound judgment.
• Experience guiding teams through change and embedding new operational methodologies.
• Adopts a coaching approach focused on elevating others' capabilities.
• Outstanding communication skills with a strong orientation towards customer and community needs.
• Beneficial additional experience includes previous local government or public sector involvement, business partnering, account management, service design, or programme leadership.

What We Offer

• A strong work-life balance with flexible working arrangements.
• Career coaching and professional growth opportunities.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Wellbeing initiatives and volunteer leave.
• Three extra paid leave days annually.
• Two weeks’ paid Partners Leave.
• Sick leave available from the first day of employment.
• Continued KiwiSaver contributions during savings suspension.
• Discounts from local and national businesses.

About Selwyn District Council

Located in Rolleston, just 25km from Christchurch, Selwyn District is recognized as New Zealand’s fastest-growing district offering an excellent quality of life, vibrant communities, and a flourishing economy. The Council actively partners with residents to deliver essential services and facilities supporting community growth.

Our workplace values guide us daily:

• Be a good human
• Be brave - think differently
• Better together - make it happen for Selwyn

The Council respects Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to fulfilling obligations with its Treaty partner.

If you aspire to contribute to making Selwyn an outstanding place to live, work, and play, we encourage you to apply.