Head of Office - Manager of the Mayoral Office

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!

Are you ready to shape how the Mayor leads, connects, and delivers for Tauranga? We are seeking an experienced and politically astute Chief of Staff to lead the Mayoral Office a trusted advisor, strategic operator, and connector who can turn vision into action.

Te Tūranga | About the role

As Head of Office – Manager of the Mayoral Office, you will act as the key advisor to the Mayor, working closely with the Chief Executive and lead the day-to-day operation of the Mayoral Office and ensure the Mayor’s priorities are embedded across Council and the community. You will act as the key advisor to the Mayor and driving alignment between governance and management, and supporting effective leadership across the organisation.

In this pivotal role, you will:

• Lead a cohesive, high-performing Mayoral Office team that includes strategic, communications, and governance support functions.
• Provide high-level coordination and advice that connects governance direction to operational delivery.
• Act as the principal point of escalation between the Mayor and the organisation resolving issues, unblocking barriers, and ensuring delivery.
• Strengthen alignment, trust and communication between the Mayor, Elected Members, Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team.
• Represent the Mayor’s interests in key forums including MetroSector, UNISA, and regional mayors’ meetings, ensuring Tauranga’s voice is influential and respected.

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in law, political science, public policy, management, or a related field.
• Proven senior leadership experience within government, public sector, or political environments.
• Exceptional judgement, discretion, and political acumen.
• Strong problem-solving, coordination and influencing skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and deliver outcomes.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills, with experience engaging at governance and executive level.
• A deep understanding of the local government operating context, including relevant legislative frameworks.

This is a rare opportunity to play a central role at the heart of city leadership — driving alignment, building trust, and helping deliver the outcomes that matter most for Tauranga.

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 or 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 19 November 2025

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 Office - Manager of the Mayoral Office