Applications Lead

Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato (Waikato District Council) serves the Waikato District which covers more than 400,000 hectares (418.893ha). It borders Hamilton City from the north, east and west. There are 2,422 kilometres of roads which you can travel throughout the district.

Our Head office in Ngaaruawaahia is an open plan hot desking environment, it includes a collab space as well as unique areas to work or meet with colleagues. Outside there are Waikato River walks and the chance to hit the Hakarimatas on your lunch break. We also have an onsite cafeteria, free parking and work-life balance.

At Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato you will find a welcoming and inclusive workplace that supports, challenges and encourages you to stay continually ahead of the game.

**About this role**:
At Waikato District Council, digital and information are seen as critical assets that underpin our delivery of services, enhance our operational efficiency, & empower informed decision-making. We are 4 years into our Digital Transformation journey and are about to commence the optimisation phase of the plan where we will drive transformation across our council through leveraging technology enablers.

We're looking for a visionary Applications Lead to champion the development, integration, and resilience of our digital systems. This is a pivotal leadership role where you'll guide a talented team, drive innovation, and ensure our technology environment is secure, efficient, and future-ready.

**What I do?**

As our Applications Lead, you'll:

- Lead and mentor the Applications & Integration team, fostering growth and performance.
- Ensure systems are robust, secure, and seamlessly integrated.
- Drive digital transformation, automation, and self-service initiatives.
- Provide high-level technical support and strategic guidance.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver exceptional customer-centric solutions.
- Champion digital best practices across council and with external partners.

You'll be the voice of reason when it comes to technology decisions, balancing innovation with practicality and ensuring our systems support the needs of our organisation and community.

**What I bring?**

We're looking for someone who is:

- A proven leader with 5+ years in ICT team leadership.
- Experienced in regulated environments with complex, integrated systems.
- Technically skilled in integration platforms (e.g., BizTalk, Mule ESB), SQL, APIs, and microservices.
- Certified (or working towards) in ITIL 4, CISSP, TOGAF.
- A strategic thinker with strong planning and project management skills.
- An excellent communicator, able to engage with both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Passionate about innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement.

You'll also bring a commitment to Zero Harm, and a willingness to engage with te ao Māori, tikanga, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

**Why join our team?**

We're a flexible working organisation - yes this means you can work from home, but it's also so much more than that, we encourage our people to work in ways that provide the best outcomes rather than measuring success by time spent at a desk.

Digital and information systems are critical to how we serve our communities. This role is your opportunity to shape the future of council services, lead a high-performing team, and make a real impact.

We offer:

- A collaborative and supportive team culture.
- Opportunities for professional development.

**Additional Information**

Location: Ngaaruawaahia

Hours of work: 40

A chance to work on meaningful projects that benefit our district.
- Reference #
- 36780
- Posted on
- 06 Aug 2025
- Closes on
- 19 Aug 2025 23:59
- Location(s)
- Ngaaruawaahia
- Expertise
- Information & Communication Technology
- Job level(s)
- Experienced
- Work type(s)
- Permanent full-time