Arts Venues Manager, Wellington
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Wellington City Council

Arts Venues Manager

  • Posted Today
  • On Site
  • Full Time

Wellington

Job Description

Kia mahi ngātahi mō Pōneke mō tōna āpōpō | Working together for Wellington's future

Shape the future of Wellington's arts venues


Wellington City Council is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Arts Venues Manager to lead the operation, performance and future success of our key arts and creative facilities, including Toi Aro and Hannah Playhouse. This newly created leadership role sits within the Economic and Engagement Group's Activation, Arts & Economy business unit, where we work to support a vibrant, connected and thriving city.


Ngā Taipitopito Tūranga | Role details

As Arts Venues Manager, you'll be responsible for ensuring our arts venues are safe, compliant, financially sustainable, well utilised, and positioned to deliver lasting value to Wellington's creative communities. You'll lead a team, oversee facilities and tenancy management, drive operational excellence, and work with a wide range of stakeholders to maximise the potential of these important city assets.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how Council-owned creative spaces are managed and experienced. You'll bring together strong operational leadership, commercial acumen, and relationship management skills to ensure our venues continue to support artists, organisations, audiences and communities across Wellington.


Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

You'll be an experienced leader with a background in facilities, venue, property or operational management and a track record of delivering results in complex environments.


You'll also bring:

  • Experience leading facilities, venues, property portfolios or complex operational environments, particularly those in creative and/or cultural sectors.
  • Strong commercial, financial and contract management capability.
  • A sound understanding of health, safety, risk and compliance requirements.
  • Experience leading people and building high-performing teams.
  • Excellent relationship management skills and the ability to work across a diverse stakeholder environment.
  • A continuous improvement mindset and a focus on delivering great customer and community outcomes.


The Economic and Engagement business unit plays a key role in shaping Wellington's future through city activation, arts and culture, economic development, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to Wellington's cultural infrastructure while leading a talented team and working alongside passionate colleagues committed to the city's success.

If you're ready to lead the spaces that help bring Wellington's creative life to life, we'd love to hear from you.


Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

View our Employee Value Proposition Video to see what our employees say about working at WCC.


Diversity:

We want your application to enable you to portray the real you. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just formal employment.  If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the advert through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We welcome applications from all people and like our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.


Accessibility Support:

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing: recruitment@wcc.govt.nz

Applications close 11 October 2026. Please note that we may engage with applicants prior to the vacancy closing and/or close applications ahead of this date so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.


All applications must be submitted online and must have the right to work in New Zealand – we will not accept emailed applications.

All employees must undergo a Criminal Conviction Check, the results of which will be held on your employee file if employed.

If you have questions, please contact Melissa Davey, Manager City Activation, Arts & Economy, melissa.davey@wcc.govt.nz

Desired Hard Skills

  • Stakeholder Management
  • Contract Management
  • Facilities Management
  • Financial Management
  • Health and Safety Compliance

Desired Soft Skills

  • Team Building
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Customer Focus
  • Leadership
  • Relationship Management

Benefits & Perks

Culture

  • 🤱 Extended Parental Leave
  • 🏛 Fully Paid Jury Service
  • 🏘 Work from Home
  • 🧕 Inclusive Workspace
  • ❤ Care and Appreciation
  • ⚖ Work-Life Balance Support
  • 🧠 Mental Health Workshops
  • 💚 Counselling Services
  • 💪 Physical Health Workshops
  • 🌿 Wellness Program
  • 🏥 Subsidised Health Insurance
  • 📈 Professional Development
  • 🏎 Competitive Salary
  • 🎉 Employee Discounts and Rewards
  • 🎖 Long Service Rewards
  • 💻 Company Supplied Technology
  • ⏰ Flexible Work
View All
  • 🧠 Neurodiverse
  • 💰 Wage Equality
  • 🏃 Women Leadership
  • 👩 Woman CEO
  • 💸 Living Wage
  • 🤝 Unionisation
  • 🙌 Community Focused
  • 🌐 INZ Accredited Employer
View All

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