Principal Advisor - Corporate Services, Kaikohe
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Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika - Far North District Council

Principal Advisor - Corporate Services

  • Posted Today
  • On Site
  • Contract, Temp

Kaikohe

Job Description

Are you the person senior leaders turn to when something complex, sensitive or stuck needs sorting?


Bring order, peace and clear thinking to work that matters. If you enjoy making sense of complexity, asking the useful questions and turning good thinking into practical action, this could be your next challenge. You will work alongside the Group Manager Corporate Services at the center of a broad portfolio, helping the group stay ahead of priorities, reform and change.


  • BE THE TRUSTED VOICE - Offer sound judgement, constructive challenge and pragmatic advice.
  • OWN THE HARD STUFF - Pick up complex, high-priority work and move it through to an outcome.
  • CONNECT THE DOTS - Bring people, decisions, risks and deadlines together across the Council.


Ready to turn complexity into progress? Bring your judgement, curiosity and delivery focus to the Far North.


Te Wero – The Challenge

  • Trusted Advisor: Work side by side with the Group Manager Corporate Services as a sounding board, providing advice, challenge and judgement on strategic, operational and governance matters.
  • A broad Portfolio: Finance, technology and artificial intelligence (AI), people and capability, governance, records, customer services and commercial matters, all in one role. No two weeks look the same.
  • Reform and Change: Helps the group navigate significant reform, transition and organisational change, at a time when the demands on local government have never been greater.
  • Delivery That Sticks: Take ownership of complex, high-priority work and drive it through to practical outcomes, not just coordination. Your contribution supports the Council’s mission to create great places and support our people.


What You’ll Do:


  • Provide trusted, timely and pragmatic advice to the Group Manager on priorities, emerging issues and organisational risks.
  • Take ownership of delegated workstreams and drive them through to clear, practical and timely outcomes.
  • Coordinate priority programmes, including reform and transition work, operating model improvements, commercial and financial matters, and technology and AI initiatives.
  • Prepare, review and coordinate high quality decision ready reports, briefings, business cases and formal Council papers.
  • Keep actions, deadlines, dependencies, risks and decisions visible across the Corporate Services work programme.
  • Connect people across the wider organisation, remove barriers and keep activity aligned.
  • Anticipate upcoming governance and other decision-making points, so the group is prepared rather than reactive.


I ā koe - About You

You don’t need to be the technical expert in every portfolio. You do need to be curious, credible and confident enough to get to the heart of an issue, bring the right people together and keep momentum when priorities shift:


Ideally you’ll have:


  • A relevant tertiary qualification in public policy, business, management, law, finance, commerce, project management or a related discipline, or equivalent senior level experience.
  • Significant experience in senior advisory, governance, programme delivery or leadership roles within a complex organisation.
  • A track record of preparing high-quality written advice, briefings, options analysis and reports for senior or governance audiences.
  • Strong political nous, discretion and judgement, with the confidence to work on sensitive and high-profile matters.
  • The ability to influence, gain cooperation and drive accountability without direct authority. This role has no direct reports, but works closely with managers, project leads and subject matter experts across the Council.
  • A practical, can-do style, moving comfortably between strategic context and hands-on delivery.
  • Resilience and composure in ambiguity, changing priorities and periods of high workload.
  • Local or central government experience is useful, but experience in another politically complex, multi-stakeholder environment is also welcome.
  • Confidence using Microsoft 365 tools, work programme trackers and reporting tools, and a commitment to Te Pae o Uta, the Council’s Te Ao Māori framework, and to Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.


Tā mātou āroha – What We Offer

Far North District Council are proud of our diverse workforce and are committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We are a progressive and growing council filled with like-minded people who love what they do and are committed to providing superior services to residents and their community.


You will be given all the tools of the trade to hit the ground running.


  • This is a fixed term position for 12 months.
  • Learning & Development plan to ensure your ongoing growth and success within the organisation.
  • We offer hybrid working, flexible work arrangements.


We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process that supports access needs to ensure every applicant can participate fully and confidently. This is in line with our Accessibility Policy, supports the Te Tai Tokerau Regional Accessibility Strategy, and upholds the values of mana tangata, manaakitanga, mahi tahi, whanaungatanga and āhurutanga. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs when making your application.


Creating Great Places, Supporting our People


Please note that advertising campaigns may close earlier than the stated date.

Desired Hard Skills

  • Business Analysis
  • Governance Reporting
  • Programme Management
  • Risk Management
  • Strategic Planning

Desired Soft Skills

  • Political Acumen
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Strategic Judgement

Benefits & Perks

Culture

  • 🤱 Extended Parental Leave
  • 🏛 Fully Paid Jury Service
  • 🏘 Work from Home
  • 🧕 Inclusive Workspace
  • ❤ Care and Appreciation
  • 💼 Life Insurance
  • 🧠 Mental Health Workshops
  • 💚 Counselling Services
  • 🏎 Competitive Salary
  • 🎉 Employee Discounts and Rewards
  • 🎖 Long Service Rewards
  • ⏰ Flexible Work
View All
  • 📚 Cultural Competency Training
  • 💡 Internal Mentoring
  • 🙌 Community Focused
  • 🌐 INZ Accredited Employer

Job Schedule

  • Monday to Friday

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