Manager Urban Planning and Research
Manager Urban Planning and Research, 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 define how we want to grow (‘good growth’) and to assess the impact of collective efforts to improve community outcomes (including from Council activity).
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 responsible for Council meeting its legislative requirements, including directives set through the Government’s National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards, related to land use; research and monitoring.
- Ensures Resource Management Act, and other legislative, research and monitoring requirements are understood and delivered for: planning, housing, development, social and physical infrastructure, and other local matters.
- Maintains oversight of the district plan and other statutory required planning processes; and ensure that the Resource Management Act, and other legislative, requirements are met.
- Drives district planning (ie Council initiated and private plan changes), spatial planning and strategic projects, including regional initiatives, and the strategic work programme related to research and monitoring.
- Supports Council to land Vision Kapiti – Phase 2 work to ensure effective land use planning; and introduce master planning that brings the communities aspirations set through Vision Kapiti to life.
- Provides Strategic Leadership, as part of the Group’s Senior Management Team, and builds 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 ‘rockstar’ urban planning and research functions – she’s particularly interested in someone with:
- Non-negotiable requirement: previous management experience in a) research and b) urban planning in local government.
- Extensive experience in land use and/or spatial planning and research, leadership and/or government or local government policy. Strong experience in leading and mentoring a team, demonstrating a commitment to career development and learning.
- Expertise in providing strategic advice on land use planning and research and monitoring advice to Senior Management Teams and politicians.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering research, monitoring, lands use plans and in implementing change across decades involving groups with multiple, and at times competing, interests. Strong track record in translating aspirations into tangible actions.
- Experience in data analysis, data mining, and outcomes framework development and execution.
- 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 strong network across government, local government and other sectors.
- Working knowledge and experience of machinery of government and how to navigate it at local and central government levels.
- A relevant tertiary qualification in a urban planning, research, and/or business field or similar.
This is a demanding role, involving contact with the community, and will be perfect for a ‘results driven’ 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 301 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.