Library and Community Hub Leader

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

Do you have a passion for local communities and experience in the delivery of library & public service?

We are seeking an experienced person to support & Co-lead our Service Delivery Team at Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Library & Community Hub within the new civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa. This will be an amazing opportunity to play a significant part in embedding and leading a welcoming and safe, customer-focussed experience in our new space that will have something to offer everyone in our diverse community.

This is a full-time position will be based Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Library & Community Hub located at 91 Willow Street with 40 hours worked between Mon-Friday.

Prior to moving to the new site, the position will be based at He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road.

You can read more about our new Library & Community Hub here.

Your day-to-day work will include:

• Leading the successful delivery of library services and assistance with Council services.
• Providing leadership, support and development for your team.
• Setting clear expectations and modelling a strong customer service ethic so customers are served promptly, positively and professionally
• Guiding, developing and mentoring staff, including coaching and resolving day-to-day operational issues
• Ensuring the Library & Community Hub is welcoming and safe by managing health and safety and other legislative requirements
• Ensuring staff have the skills and training to resolve customer enquiries, including de-escalating aggressive customers and customer disputes
• Leading improvements to the customer experience
• Ensuring the team can provide accurate information across Council activities (including community engagement, bylaws, policies and procedures) using Council systems and communication tools
• Developing positive relationships with customers and colleagues across Tauranga City Council
• Acting as the person responsible for a Council facility, ensuring spaces are safe, welcoming, accessible and activated through programmes and events for the community

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Library Studies, Information Management, Business Management (or similar)
• At least 5 years’ experience leading a library or customer service centre
• Demonstrated experience coaching employees and resolving operational issues
• A calm, confident approach and the ability to lead a team in a busy, public-facing environment
• Strong communication skills and a genuine commitment to outstanding customer service
• A commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment
• A willingness to grow your knowledge of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi through meaningful partnership with tangata whenua

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.

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

Te Tukanga | How to apply

If you want to be part of a supportive team delivering great outcomes for our community, we’d love to hear from you. For more information, please contact Jeremy Glass at Jeremy.glass@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 on Sunday 24th May 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: Library and Community Hub Leader