Head of City Operations

Tau ake rā te moana nei, e papaki kau ana ki te ākau tangata, kakenga waka ka mauru te tohu ki te arearenga o Mauao, he pou herenga mōu, he pou hononga mōu, kia herea ki te tika, kia herea ki te pono. Kia mau, kia ita, kia ū – haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!

Te Tūranga | About the role

As a Head of City Operations, you’ll play a key role in turning strategy into action. Reporting to our General Manager for Operations and Infrastructure, you’ll lead operational teams that deliver services our community relies on every day – keeping Tauranga’s spaces, places and services safe, well‑maintained and running smoothly.

This is a hands‑on leadership role where you’ll balance people leadership, operational performance and continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with internal partners and external contractors to deliver agreed programmes on time, within budget and to the standards our community expects.

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead and develop operational teams to deliver high‑quality services
• Drive a strong safety culture that prioritises health, wellbeing and accountability
• Manage operational plans, budgets and performance outcomes
• Build positive relationships with stakeholders, contractors and partners
• Nurture and cultivate the culture of continuous improvement, doing the right thing and taking pride in your work. Look for ways to encourage and drive your team to continue to seek continuous improvement in their roles.

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• Senior operational leadership experience leading complex service delivery portfolios, including leading other leaders in multi‑disciplinary environments.
• A proven ability to integrate, streamline and lift operational performance — improving systems and ways of working without creating unnecessary disruption or bureaucracy.
• A people‑centred change leadership style, delivering results while strengthening culture, health, safety, wellbeing and capability.
• Strong financial, commercial and risk acumen, with confidence owning budgets, performance reporting and decision‑making in a public accountability context.
• The executive presence and judgement to engage credibly at senior level — contributing to briefings, papers and presentations, and working effectively with contractors, unions, iwi, stakeholders and the wider community.

This role suits a leader who improves how complex operations work — strengthening systems, culture and delivery at the same time. Someone who not necessarily comes from the same industry or background but embraces challenge and seeks continuous improvement.

Tō Tātou Kaunihera | About Tauranga City Council

Tauranga City Council is one of Tauranga’s largest employers, and we are always looking to attract great talent to join our driven, passionate, and community-focused team.

We always strive to ensure that you feel valued and supported in the workplace.

To highlight that our people are our greatest asset, we offer a wide range of benefits that include 5 weeks annual leave, flexible hours and work from home options, as well as career development opportunities.

You can find out more about working at Tauranga City Council here.

Te Tukanga | How to apply

If you want to be part of an energetic, fun, and supportive team, then we'd love to hear from you. For more information, please contact Rob Field at Rob.Field@tauranga.govt.nz

Please note we will not be accepting applications via email. If you wish to apply, please click ‘Apply’ at the bottom of this page and follow the link.

Applications will close 26th June 2026

We’re committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those living with disabilities.
If you need any support or adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@tauranga.govt.nz

• You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.
• Tauranga City Council does not accept unsolicited contact or applications from recruitment agencies. We will not pay fees or commissions related to unsolicited contact.

Job Description: Head of City Operations