Senior Advisor Organisational Development | Kaitohutohu Matua Whanaketanga Whakahaere

Our city is growing and changing and we need skilled people to help us realise our potential. Working for Porirua City is an opportunity for you to make a real difference in the community. You’ll be welcomed into a team that’s collaborative, values input and empowers you to make things happen. To top it off, the harbour, beaches, bike trails and walks will be at your doorstep. 

About the role

As our Senior Advisor Organisational Development, you’ll lead and deliver initiatives that enhance culture, grow capability, and support an engaged, high-performing workforce. You’ll provide trusted advice to senior leaders, drive organisational development projects, and play a key leadership role within the People & Capability team.

You will: 

• Develop, drive and deliver organisational development projects that strengthen culture and organisational effectiveness.
• Provide high-quality strategic and operational OD advice to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Shape People & Capability strategies, work programmes and initiatives that support our future direction.
• Review and develop people-focused policies to support best practice and legislative compliance.
• Design and facilitate workshops, corporate training and OD events; co-lead the corporate training programme and manage the training budget.
• Lead the Learning & Development Advisor, supporting their growth and ensuring successful delivery of L&D programmes.
• Lead our Diversity & Inclusion committee and champion D&I initiatives across Council.
• Deliver employee surveys and turn insights into meaningful action and reporting.
• Support leadership development and provide expert coaching on OD, performance, learning and engagement.

About you

We’re looking for a confident and experienced OD professional who’s passionate about creating meaningful employee experiences and lifting organisational performance. If you enjoy balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, influencing leaders, and bringing people-centred initiatives to life, this role offers the opportunity to make a real difference across Council.

You’ll need to show us that you will bring:

• Broad expertise across organisational development—culture, engagement, capability development, performance, L&D, rewards, recognition and organisational design.
• A strong strategic skill set combined with the ability to turn ideas into practical, effective initiatives.
• Proven success designing and delivering a broad range of organisational development programmes.
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, including coaching leaders at all levels.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence facilitating.
• Experience using data and insights to shape decisions and measure impact.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Experience delivering both generalist HR and specialist OD services.
• Confidence navigating change, solving problems and managing competing priorities.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience.

What you need to do now

Come and join our collaborative and supportive People & Capability team, gain exposure at all levels, and lead impactful work that contributes to our vision and the wellbeing of our community.

Please contact Sandra Rodgers, Manager Health, Safety & Workforce Development on 021 811 807 for more information.

Porirua City embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications by people from all backgrounds and are a member of Diversity Works. If you have any support or access requirements during our recruitment process, please let us know when you apply, and we’ll do our best to get you sorted.

You will need to apply via our careers centre: www.poriruacity.govt.nz/careers.

To find out more about working for Porirua City Watch this video

Applications close on Sunday 18 January 2026.