Manager Strategy and Policy

Manager Strategy and Policy, Strategy and Growth

Applications close: Friday 7 November 2025

The opportunity | He angitūtanga

We’re focused on lifting our regulatory performance and need you!

Our Council is making some changes to how we operate across our local regulatory system, which is led from our Strategy and Growth Group. We are focused on ensuring that our Council is well positioned to:

• Make the most of the exciting growth opportunities facing Kapiti, with more than $2 billion in investment planned over the next 5-10 years, and that we are prepared for the increase in volume of work we expect from this pipeline.
• Pivot in response to the plethora of rolling central government reforms which demand greater flexibility in process, and clear expectation to reduce the time and cost of regulation.
• Ensure we implement our communities direction that the right people pay for the right services: ‘growth pays for growth’.

As part of our local regulatory system role, there is a need for our Group to proactively stay across the government policy landscape and translate government policy priorities into local ‘rules’ that are relevant for Kapiti.

This key position reports directly to the GM Strategy & Group and is one of six senior managers within the Group who are responsible for the Council’s sustainable development functions and for ensuring there is a drive for ‘good growth’ in Kapiti. This role:

• Sits alongside the GM of the Group and is accountable for the development and delivery of the policy work programme, and underpinning projects relative to strategy, policy and strategic advice; and represent Council in policy and strategy forums, including addressing select committee if required.
• Will develop and implement the organisational model for strategy and policy, including strategic frameworks, and ensure that wider strategic initiatives and programs are visible and impactful through effective communications and tools.
• Will maintain Council’s external policies and bylaws, ensuring that legislative and statutory requirements are met; and drive strategies relevant to Councils’ work and role.
• Will assess and implement best practice frameworks for the Council’s internal policy suite for the organisation; and provide strategic oversight and advice around the sufficiency of existing and proposed changes to the policy suite over time.
• Supports Council to develop its strategic priorities, and to maintain the Top-10 priorities framework; advice around the strategic choices and scenarios to obtain future goals; and monitor activity against these priorities.
• Will provide Strategic Leadership, as part of the Group’s Senior Management Team, and build the capability of Tier-4 leaders and other staff.

Why work with us? When you join Kāpiti Coast District Council you’ll enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including:

• A positive, ‘learning’ culture, and the commitment of a high-performing Executive Team – because working in an empowering and ‘good vibe’ environment matters.
• Flexible working and dependant leave – because we know that it’s important to get the work/life balance right.
• Free on-site parking – say goodbye to parking hassles.
• Free access to pools – dive into fun.
• Council staff discounts – because who doesn’t love a good deal?

About you | He kōrero mōu

The GM of the Group is looking for a hard-hitting and experienced senior leader to drive the performance of our modest strategy and policy functions – she’s particularly interested in someone with:

• Non-negotiable requirement: previous management experience in leading a policy ‘shop’ team (including strategy and policy) in local government.
• At least 5-8 years’ experience in management roles in relevant local or central government; and extensive experience in strategic leadership and/or government policy.
• Excellent track record in dealing with ambiguity. Expertise in providing strategy and policy advice to Senior Management Teams and politicians.
• Strong experience in leading and mentoring a team, demonstrating a commitment to career development and learning.
• Working knowledge and experience of machinery of government and how to navigate it at local and central government levels.
• Demonstrated experience in developing strategies, policies, bylaws, and plans involving groups with multiple, and at times competing, interests. Strong track record in strategy development and translating through to delivery, including support of change management and cultural activity to execute strategy.
• Demonstrated sound political nous, competent at navigating highly political environments and working closely with elected members, and an appreciation of the Council’s business environment and its strategic priorities.
• Evidence of highly skilled stakeholder engagement and ability to relate with a wide range of people. Demonstrated approachable senior leadership style that can confidently navigate across government partners and stakeholders to lead strategic policy outcomes. 
• A relevant tertiary qualification in a business field or similar.

This is a demanding role, involving contact with the community, and will be perfect for a ‘calm and collected’ operator that’s looking for something new. So, if this grabbed your attention and it sounded like you, stop scrolling and start typing - we’re really keen to you hear from you and hope you’ll hit “apply” to put yourself in the running to join the senior management team in the Strategy and Growth Group.

For more detailed information regarding the role, please view the job description here. [PDF 305 KB]

How to apply | Me pēhea te tono

Come and join us in supporting our district to grow well, and to work with our community and key stakeholders somewhere people can live, work and play!

We are working at pace to get the right person here, so applications close on Friday 7 November 2025 - get yours in now!

Please note that we will be reviewing applications as they come in – we will interview for the role from 3 November 2025 and will be looking to promptly appoint the right person.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand. Please note preferred candidates are required to undergo pre-employment checks including drug and alcohol screening and Police checks.