Project Communications & Engagement Manager

Hamilton City and Waikato District Councils have formed a publicly owned, Council-controlled Organisation (CCO) to deliver water services across Hamilton city and Waikato district. The company is called IAWAI - Flowing Waters and has taken over the provision of water services from 1 July 2026. This transition will occur in stages such as the current Watercare contract for Waikato District Council transferring to the CCO on 1 July 2026.  

He angituutanga: The opportunity 

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead community and stakeholder engagement across one of the region’s most significant infrastructure programmes. Reporting to the Pou Aronui (GM Maaori Partnerships, Communications and Engagement), you’ll provide senior leadership across engagement and communications for IAWAI’s $3 billion capital programme, helping ensure communities and stakeholders are informed, involved and genuinely able to have their say. You’ll lead a team working across multiple drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects, setting a clear and consistent approach to engagement and making sure it is considered early in project planning. You’ll also work closely with Aronui Maaori (Maaori Partnerships) and Aronui Paaoho (Corporate Communications) to bring together project delivery, strong relationships and clear, coordinated communication.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead community and stakeholder engagement across IAWAI’s $3 billion infrastructure programme.
• Lead, support and develop the team across multiple projects and priorities.
• Shape engagement strategies, stakeholder frameworks and consultation approaches.
• Make sure engagement is planned early and delivered consistently across projects.
• Build strong relationships with communities, stakeholders and project partners.
• Work closely with Maaori Partnerships and Corporate Communications to keep engagement and messaging connected and coordinated.
• Ensure engagement meets IAWAI’s Significance and Engagement Policy and relevant statutory requirements.

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience 

• Proven experience leading and developing a multi-disciplinary team of at least six to eight people, including managing performance and building capability and team cultur
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to team structure and operating model design, and to implement standards and ways of working that outlast individuals
• Strong judgement in prioritising and allocating resources across multiple concurrent projects and competing demands
• Credibility and influence with senior leaders and delivery teams, and the confidence to escalate and advise upwards
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, growth and change while keeping a team steady, motivated and focused
• Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels, maintaining oversight while remaining connected to delivery
• 10-15 years’ experience in community and stakeholder engagement in complex infrastructure, utilities, or public sector environments, with a significant portion in a leadership role
• Bachelor's degree in communications, Management or relevant workplace experience
• Experience delivering engagement across large-scale, multi-year capital programmes with multiple concurrent projects
• Experience working within statutory engagement frameworks and significance policies, including consultation processes and regulatory requirements
• Proven ability to advise project and programme teams on engagement strategy, risk, and approach
• Strong understanding of how engagement, communications, and infrastructure delivery work together to support project outcomes
• Experience in environments with high public interest, political sensitivity, or reputational risk
• Experience working alongside Maaori partnership or engagement functions, with an understanding of how to appropriately integrate mana whenua engagement alongside broader community engagement
• Ability to interpret community and stakeholder feedback and translate it into actionable insights for project teams and organisational decision-making
• Strong stakeholder and relationship management capability across communities, businesses and local organisations

He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What’s the salary? 

Circa $150k dependent on skills and experience.

Me Tono Inaaianei!: Apply Now! 

• View the position description.
• Click apply
• ​Complete your application.

If you wish to include a cover letter with your application, please combine this in the same file as your resume and upload as a PDF file. Alternatively, you can use the 'Write a message to the Hiring Team' text box.

Applications close on the: 19th November 2026

Note: We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. View more information about these checks, our commitment to the Privacy act and details for international applicants by clicking hereIt is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met