Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor
Lead the delivery of external engagement for key water projects in Wellington
Meaningful role with community and customer engagement focus
Petone office, regular travel within Wellington region
This is a full-time permanent position of 40 hours per week.
The opportunity
As Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, you will lead engagement planning and outreach with residents, businesses, community groups and other important stakeholders to support our capital projects, from stormwater upgrades to major drinking and wastewater builds.
You will play an important role in building strong relationships and delivering meaningful engagement initiatives with our key stakeholders, partners and communities. Bringing a proactive mindset and can-do attitude you will:
Lead the development and delivery of stakeholder and community engagement strategies for Tiaki Wai’s capital projects
Work with a diverse range of stakeholders to deliver on-the-ground engagement activities
Ensure a community centric lens is provided on all Tiaki Wai capital projects
Lead the organisation and management of community events and meetings
Provide strong engagement advice and support to leaders
Enjoy a high level of self-direction/autonomy/confidence giving advice to project leads, within a supportive and collaborative team environment.
About you
To be successful in this role you will bring:
Solid experience in community engagement with a strong customer focus
Experience in delivering engagement for large scale projects and programmes of work
Highly developed interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective relationships and influence a wide range of stakeholders and audiences
An ability to understand different perspectives and adapt your approach when required
Ability to plan strategically and identify operational and organisational risks.
Proven ability to interpret complex information and translate into straight forward and easy to understand messaging.
A full clean driver's license as some travel across the wider Wellington region is needed.
Although a background in water services or infrastructure would be preferable, you’ll quickly develop this knowledge on the job.
Benefits
At Tiaki Wai, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.
Our benefits include:
Flexible working arrangements including up to 2 days working from home
Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annually
Formal and informal professional development opportunities
5 weeks annual leave accrual will be available following 2 years of continual service
For a full list of our employee benefits click here.
About us
Tiaki Wai is a council-owned organisation responsible for managing the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Wellington.
We manage public-owned extensive water infrastructure and oversee the delivery of safe and reliable services for our communities. We focus on long-term investment, asset management, maintenance, and delivering major infrastructure projects that support public health, environmental protection, and regional growth.
Water is a precious taonga. At Tiaki Wai, we put care into every drop and are guided by our values of Integrity, Care, and Leadership. We work directly with water consumers and in partnership with councils and mana whenua to deliver better water outcomes for current and future generations.
Applications close: Monday 21 September 2026.
How to apply
To view a copy of the position description: click here
To apply for the role, click on the ‘apply’ button or visit the Tiaki Wai Careers site, if you are a Tiaki Wai employee please apply using your work email.
For further information, email: JoinUs@tiakiwai.co.nz
Applicants for safety sensitive roles will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment with Tiaki Wai. You must also be legally entitled to work long-term in New Zealand or eligible to obtain a working visa.
- Department
- Customer
- Role
- Communications and Engagement
- Locations
- Petone Office
Petone Office
Staff benefits
1. Inclusive Culture: It is important to us that people love our culture. We embrace a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and inclusivity is at our core. Our team is united by passion, dedication, and a shared care for water and our community.
2. Safety and Support: We provide an Employee Assistance Scheme for crucial personal support, along with wellbeing and lifestyle education delivered through our Wellbe Team, ensuring you feel supported in and out of the workplace.
3. Health is Wealth: We prioritise your health with an annual voluntary health "warrant of fitness," immunisations, and flu vaccinations. Moreover, enjoy annual subsidised vision testing and contributions toward glasses to ensure clear vision.
4. Work-Life Balance: Where possible there is access to flexible work practices. And take advantage of our annual leave, reaching five weeks after three years of service, and 10 days sick leave from starting with us. In addition, take one paid day a year for your personal Wellbeing. We also offer parental leave and partner entitlements to support you during significant life moments.
5. Comprehensive Benefits: We have partnered with providers for discounted Southern Cross medical insurance, periodic vision and hearing tests, and eyewear subsidies. You can also access discounts at a range of retailers via Boost. Gain access to top-notch gear, machinery, PPE, and tools, fostering a safe work environment if you are “on the tools”. We also offer a staff referral bonus paid when a person is recruited for a senior front line position, and we may offer relocation support if you need to move into the district to work here.
6. Professional Growth: Grow your skills with a range of development opportunities. Boosting your personal and work career.
7. Community Connection: You can take one paid day a year to participate in voluntary work on a water-related activity. And maybe join our active Waiata group and be part of a community that works together, sings, and thrives together.
