COMPANY DESCRIPTION

This role sits within the Strategy, Growth and Planning Group who ensure we have long-term guardianship of strategic planning and development. They make decisions in the best interests of our city and our region (with a boundaryless view) and create inter-generational and environmental sustainability.
Our job is looking ahead for the future of our city.

HE ANGITUUTANGA: THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the General Manager Strategy, Growth and Planning, Hamilton City Council is seeking a visionary leader and city-shaper to head our Urban & Spatial Planning Unit. This role is central to shaping the future of the city. You’ll unlock residential and employment growth through best-practice urban planning, while protecting and enhancing the unique natural and built environment that defines Hamilton. We’re not about ticking boxes, our approach is solution-focused and customer-centric, with a strong emphasis on early engagement, urban design, and enabling economic development alongside environmental and community wellbeing.
As Unit Director you’ll set the strategic direction, champion a culture of high performance and collaboration, elevate standards and inspire your talented team to achieve outstanding results. This is a rare opportunity to step into a career-defining role where your vision and influence will help guide the future of New Zealand’s fastest-growing city and fourth largest. You’ll work closely with developers, iwi, government, and regional partners to deliver boundaryless planning outcomes sub-regionally through Future Proof.
If you’re driven by the opportunity to shape vibrant, sustainable communities and excel in building meaningful partnerships, we invite you to bring your expertise and vision and join our Hamilton City Council team.

Key responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Set/Enable/Expect leadership delivery and contribute to the growth and development of the unit by maintaining the appropriate levels of technical competency and behaviours.
• Develop proactive relationships with proponents of developments and initiatives so that early engagement ensures proposals are well understood.
• Work closely with Senior Leaders across Council to advance projects that support the growth of Hamilton and our ability to deliver an effective city to ratepayers.
• Working with our partners – other councils, Government, iwi/mana whenua and stakeholders particularly the development community.
• Influence and advocate in areas of legislative reform (e.g., RMA reform) and provide advocacy with Government.
• Champion the opportunities for Hamilton and takes a flexible approach to enabling their realisation.
• Embrace trends in urban growth and translate these into action through new ways of planning or thinking.

OO PUUMANAWA ME OO WHEAKO | YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• A proven track record of thinking differently, acting with integrity, working together, and making it happen.
• Proven leadership skills with demonstrated ability to articulate the corporate vision and take people on a change journey.
• Self-awareness, that mindset, is the foundation of performance and an ability to develop self and others in this regard.
• Relevant tertiary qualification.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in planning/resource management with at least 5 years in a complex environment.
• Considerable experience in working with or within New Zealand Local Government.
• Leadership experience, at a minimum in a senior team leader role for five years.
• Ability to understand the commercial drivers and relate that to a project to seek solutions to issues where appropriate.
• Successful experience in leading a team.
• Ability to gather data, compile information, accurate analysis and prepare reports with recommendations.
• Attention to detail while retaining a ‘big picture’ focus.
• The ability to translate technical knowledge and information into ‘layman’s terms’ or business speak and vice versa.
• Ability to interpret and apply local government policies, laws, and regulations.
• Ability to identify and promote community economic development projects and initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people with diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of project management principles, practices, techniques, and tools.
• Political awareness.
• Commercial acumen.

• Set/Enable/Expect leadership delivery and contribute to the growth and development of the unit by maintaining the appropriate levels of technical competency and behaviours.
• Develop proactive relationships with proponents of developments and initiatives so that early engagement ensures proposals are well understood.
• Work closely with Senior Leaders across Council to advance projects that support the growth of Hamilton and our ability to deliver an effective city to ratepayers.
• Working with our partners – other councils, Government, iwi/mana whenua and stakeholders particularly the development community.
• Influence and advocate in areas of legislative reform (e.g., RMA reform) and provide advocacy with Government.
• Champion the opportunities for Hamilton and takes a flexible approach to enabling their realisation.
• Embrace trends in urban growth and translate these into action through new ways of planning or thinking