Principal Citizen & Customer Engagement Specialist

• Help Aucklanders the opportunity to influence the decisions that shape Tāmaki Makaurau.
• Lead high profile engagement programmes across Auckland Council
• Partner with senior leaders, elected members and diverse communities
• Help build trust through meaningful public participation
• Exciting secondment opportunity until the end of 2026

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

The role of the engagement unit is to bring the diverse voices of Aucklanders into decision making.

As our Principal Citizen & Customer Engagement Specialist within the Citizen Engagement Team, you'll help encourage all Aucklanders to have a genuine voice in shaping the future of our city. From citywide initiatives to local priorities, you'll lead strategic engagement that connects communities with decision makers and helps deliver better outcomes for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Working alongside senior leaders, elected members and business partners, you'll provide expert advice on engagement strategy, lead complex consultation programmes, and champion best practice engagement across Auckland Council. You'll play a key role in strengthening engagement capability across the organisation, promoting excellence in engagement and helping shape how Council listens to diverse communities.

No two days are the same. One day you could be leading a major regional consultation, leading the Auckland Conversations Programme, or running a deliberative democracy style project. The next you could be coaching project teams, mentoring junior members of the team, supporting elected members with tailored engagement advice, or driving continuous improvement across engagement practice in the organisation.

In this role, you'll:

• Design, advise and deliver high-quality engagement and consultation programmes across a diverse portfolio of work
• Provide trusted strategic advice to senior leaders, elected members and project teams on engagement design and delivery
• Lead the Auckland Conversations Programme and other high profile engagement initiatives
• Lead and support major regional consultations, such as Long-Term Plan in line with Auckland Council's Significance and Engagement Policy
• Champion best practice engagement and promote Auckland Council's unique governance model
• Build strong partnerships with communities, and internal and external stakeholders
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen engagement capability and delivery across Council

He kōrero mōu: About you

You're a strategic engagement professional who knows how to bring people together.

You thrive in complex environments, build trusted relationships with ease, and can confidently navigate competing priorities while delivering meaningful engagement outcomes. You're equally comfortable providing strategic advice to senior decision makers as you are working alongside communities to ensure diverse voices are heard.

Success in this role centres on your ability to influence others, strengthen engagement capability, and build lasting relationships across Auckland Council and the wider community.

You'll bring:

• Extensive experience in stakeholder or community engagement

• Experience delivering complex engagement or consultation programmes

• Strong political awareness and an understanding of local or central government

• Outstanding communication, facilitation and relationship management skills

• The confidence to influence senior stakeholders and provide strategic advice

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer 

You will be part of a dynamic, high achieving and supportive team where your mahi  will directly impact the lives of over 1.8 million Aucklanders. Based in Albert Street, and part of the wider Engagement Unit, our anchor days in the office are Tuesdays and Wednesdays and you have the opportunity to work from home if you wish on the other days.  

We are proud to be recognised for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are accredited by GenderTick, a signatory of the Pride Pledge. These commitments reflect our ongoing efforts to create a workplace where all staff feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.  
 
Together, we can create a Tāmaki Makaurau we can all be proud of.
View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits HERE 

This is a secondment or fixed-term opportunity (to cover another secondment) until end December 2026.

We are seeking to appoint a suitable candidate for this role as quickly as possible. Interviews are scheduled to commence from 13 July, so early applications are strongly encouraged.
 
Me Tono Ināianei!: Apply Now!
Applications close: Wednesday 8th July 11:59pm
Find a copy of the position description HERE

 
Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.