Placemaker

Role overview

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity based within Auckland Council’s Auckland Urban Development Office, in the Resilience and Infrastructure area. The role sits in the Priority Locations team and focuses on helping drive regeneration and growth in key South Auckland areas.

As a Placemaker, you will help activate public spaces, strengthen local identity, and support communities to connect with the places they live and use. The work combines relationship-building, planning, delivery coordination, and on-site support for activations and community-led initiatives.

You will work across a matrix team environment, contributing to place programmes by managing logistics, supporting delivery plans, coordinating permits and bookings, and helping ensure activations run safely and smoothly.

This is a practical, delivery-focused role with varied day-to-day work, including preparation, hands-on support during events, compliance checks, and operational coordination.

Key duties

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, suppliers, and community partners to support place-based regeneration.
• Assist with planning and delivery of activations, events, activities, and installations.
• Coordinate delivery requirements such as bookings, permits, and run sheets or activity plans.
• Provide on-the-ground support during activations, including venue or site setup and operational assistance.
• Track risks and issues, and help with mitigation or escalation when required.
• Contribute to reporting, monitoring, and programme updates that support delivery oversight.
• Support engagement with mana whenua and local communities so initiatives reflect local aspirations.

What we are looking for

You should be a practical and organised person who enjoys creating well-run, community-centred initiatives. The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where priorities can change and attention to detail matters.

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building ability.
• Background in placemaking, events, activations, community engagement, or a similar delivery-focused role.
• Good organisational capability, including handling multiple tasks, schedules, bookings, and logistics.
• Confidence working with varied stakeholders such as community groups, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tikanga Māori in practice, or a willingness to build that knowledge.
• Flexibility to support on-site delivery when needed.
• Full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence.

Preferred experience

• Experience working in local government or other large, complex organisations.
• Exposure to event operations, public realm activations, or creative and community programming.
• Experience engaging with diverse communities and neighbourhoods.
• Familiarity with event compliance, health and safety, or permitting processes.

Benefits and working environment

Auckland Council is the largest local government council in Oceania, serving more than 1.7 million people and helping shape Tāmaki Makaurau into a world-class city.

The organisation offers a range of employee benefits and supports flexible working where possible. Benefits mentioned include access to EAP services, an Oranga Day, discounted Leisure Centre membership, and other partner discounts. Employer KiwiSaver contributions are provided in addition to the base salary.

Auckland Council is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people with different backgrounds and perspectives.

Additional information

This role requires qualification checks along with other pre-employment checks relevant to working with Auckland Council.

Applications close on Sunday 21 June 2026.

If you have support or access needs, you are encouraged to share them during the application process so appropriate assistance can be arranged.

The employer also notes its commitment to equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.