Community, Partnerships and Engagement Manager

He angitūtanga: The Opportunity

Looking for a role where your work truly matters? One where you can lead with purpose, build strong relationships, and make a real impact in communities across Tāmaki Makaurau?

We’re excited to offer a new opportunity within our Animal Management team — and we're looking for a passionate and strategic Community, Partnerships & Engagement Manager to bring it to life.

This new role is all about driving positive change through community connection, education, and partnership. You’ll lead a dedicated team of engagement specialists and help shape how Animal Management builds trust and works alongside the people of Auckland. Together, you’ll develop innovative outreach programs, strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, and help our services better reflect the needs and values of our diverse communities.

You’ll also work closely with internal leaders, elected members, and partner organisations — ensuring our communication is clear, our strategies are forward-thinking, and our communities feel heard and supported.

This is a permanent full-time term role, working 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Auckland House, 135 Albert Street, Auckland.

He kōrero mōu:  About You

You’re a people person and a strategic thinker. You know how to build strong, respectful relationships — and how to lead with heart and vision. You’re just as comfortable talking to community groups as you are presenting to senior leaders or working with elected members.

With years of experience in community engagement, partnerships, or stakeholder strategy, you bring confidence, care, and clarity to everything you do. You understand how to lead teams, manage budgets, and build processes that not only work — but make things better.

You're someone who:

• Has a strong background (15+ years) in community development, engagement or partnerships.
• Has led high-performing teams and loves to empower others to grow and thrive.
• Knows how to navigate complexity, especially in a large or public sector organisation.
• Communicates clearly and connects easily with people from all walks of life.
• Brings innovative thinking to every project and is always looking for ways to improve.
• Believes in equity, inclusion, and the power of strong community connections.

This is your chance to shape a new leadership role from the ground up — building a culture of service, education, and collaboration within a team that’s committed to animal welfare, safety, and community wellbeing.

 Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou:  What We Offer

Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau an Auckland we can all be proud of.

We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible.

View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits HERE.

Help us make a difference to Tāmaki Makaurau.

Me Tono Ināianei! Apply now!

Find a copy of the position description here

Applications close Tuesday, 29 July 2026

Salary range from $140,000 to $165,000 plus kiwisaver.

The role is deemed safety-sensitive and will require a pre-employment drug & alcohol test prior to offer. 

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.