Community Centre Manager
Wellington City Council
Kia mahi ngatahi mo Poneke mo tona apopo - Working together for Wellington's future
Lead vibrant community spaces that connect, inspire, and empower.
We're looking for a dynamic leader to join the Libraries, Community Spaces and City Archives business unit as Community Centre Manager. This significant role provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Council-operated and partner-run community centres, ensuring they remain welcoming, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.
Au ake mahi - What you'll do
As Community Centre Manager, you will lead and develop the Community Centres team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You'll ensure the team has the skills and resources to deliver high-quality services and provide strategic leadership across work programmes.
The Community Centre Manager will set the strategic direction for community centres in line with Council's vision and wellbeing objectives, lead policy and service standard development, and drive innovation through data and feedback. Reporting to senior leaders, elected members, and stakeholders is a key part of the role.
You'll oversee Council and partner-run community centres, managing funding reviews, impact assessments, and ensuring quality programming. Building strong, collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders will be key to success.
You will build strong, effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to maximise impact and effectiveness. You will collaborate with the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office and other agencies to ensure community centres are prepared to operate as welfare and recovery hubs during emergencies.
This leadership role requires courage, collaboration, and vision. You'll model constructive, customer-focused behaviours, set clear accountabilities, mentor your team, and embed diversity, engagement, and performance.
Nga tohu me nga wheako - Qualifications and experience
- Relevant tertiary qualification or 10+ years' experience in community outreach, local government, or a related field
- Proven leadership and people management skills, with experience leading diverse teams and delivering operational excellence
- Strong financial and operational management experience, including budgeting and reporting
- Knowledge of governance structures and facilities management, with the ability to balance strategic and operational priorities
- Political awareness, exceptional communication and collaboration skills, and experience driving change
Nōu te rourou - What's in it for you
Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including five weeks' annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, 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 life, not just formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the advert through whanau life, community, or mahi aroha (volunteering), we encourage you to apply and share your story in your cover letter.
We welcome applications from all people and aim for our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.
Accessibility support
We want to ensure any accessibility requirements 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 by emailing recruitment@wcc.govt.nz.
Applications close on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
Please note we may engage with applicants prior to the vacancy closing and may close applications early, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Enquiries received after 23 December will be responded to from 7 January onwards.
Interviews will take place in the week commencing 26 January 2026.
All applications must be submitted online - emailed applications will not be accepted.
All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.
If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Parker, Manager, Libraries, Community Spaces and City Archives, jennifer.parker@wcc.govt.nz.
