Job description

Offer expert governance and legislative guidance to elected officials and internal teams.
Facilitate sound decision-making within the council and its committees through robust governance procedures.
Draft, assess, and finalize meeting agendas, minutes, governance reports, and policy documents.
Manage and support both statutory and resource management hearings efficiently.
Participate actively in electoral duties, governance education, and initiatives aimed at ongoing refinement of processes.
Collaborate closely with councillors, iwi representatives, senior management, and community partners.

Capability to excel in a dynamic, fast-evolving work environment with varied daily tasks.
Excellent interpersonal skills enabling trust-building among diverse stakeholders.
Outstanding communication skills, both spoken and written.
Exceptional organizational skills with adaptability and the ability to juggle multiple priorities smoothly.
Exercising strong judgment and maintaining discretion when dealing with confidential subjects.
Genuine enthusiasm for governance, democratic functions, and public sector decision-making.

Possession of a bachelor’s degree or comparable experience.
Three to five years of relevant professional expertise.
Proven experience advising, interpreting legislation, or managing intricate procedures.
Proficiency in written communication and managing relationships.
Preferably, previous involvement in local government, governance, democracy services or advisory roles within the public sector.

Become part of a compact, dedicated team supporting governance and democratic functions at Waikato Regional Council.
Opportunity to work alongside knowledgeable governance experts committed to transparency, exemplary decision-making, and continuous professional development.

Dedicated to safeguarding the Waikato region for current and future populations, promoting a healthy environment, thriving economy, and lively communities.
Our work embraces protecting natural resources such as water, soil, air, geothermal zones, and coastlines.
Providing outstanding customer service is central to all our roles.
We collaborate with iwi and many community stakeholders in a collective kaitiakitanga, aiming to enhance the Waikato region sustainably.
Together, we strive to forge a future that positively impacts the lives of people throughout the region.

Applications are assessed on receipt, with a closing date of Sunday, 4 October 2026.
For further details on the role, please refer to the official role description.
Questions can be directed to human.resources@waikatoregion.govt.nz.
Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter in PDF format via the application process.

Democracy Advisor