Principal Advisor

Mō te tūranga | About the role

We're looking for a Principal Advisor to join our Regional Transport Connections Senior Leadership Team and provide high-level strategic advice to the Director and SLT. In this role, you will:

• Lead and contribute to key organisational initiatives.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent the directorate on cross-functional projects.
• Drive performance, support risk management, and foster continuous improvement.
• Help build a high-performing team culture grounded in our organisational values.

This is a critical leadership role where you'll influence strategy, solve complex problems, and make a real impact on the future of regional transport connections and services for Waikato.

Mō te tangata | About you

• Ability to analyse complex issues and identify opportunities before offering strategic advice to decision makers.
• Can identify risks and assess risk appetite.
• Experience of leading and participating in significant projects and programmes.
• Has a well-developed and active professional network.
• Can build relationships with key external and internal stakeholders.
• A natural mentor to others.

Mō ngā pūkenga | Qualifications and experience

• Minimum 8 years experience in transport.
• Demonstrated experience of at least 2 years in a senior level advisory capacity.
• Success at a senior role in a multidisciplinary organisation with demonstrable achievements.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in policy, business management and/or related field.
• Strong self-starter able to determine a way forward in a complex and rapidly changing environment
• Demonstrated experience in business planning, performance measurement and project management.
• Previous experience in local government is desirable, but not essential.

Mō te tīma | About the team

• Our leadership team is focused on creating teams with sufficient resources, capability and experience to deliver a wide range of technical, operational, customer-facing and people-focused work every day.
• We are firmly focused on building and maintaining a strong culture.
• We manage strategic and funding relationships with key stakeholders such as NZ Transport Agency.

Mō mātou | About us

• We work hard to care for the mighty Waikato, so current and future generations will benefit from a healthy environment, strong economy, and vibrant communities.
• Our mahi is as diverse as the region we care for and the people who share it. Our work helps look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come.
• Customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and all staff have an important role to play in the delivery of exceptional customer service.
• If you'd like to understand more about what we do please click here
  The work we do | Waikato Regional Council.
• By partnering with iwi and working with many others in our communities, our collective kaitiakitanga will make the Waikato region even better. Together, we'll create a sustainable future that will make a positive difference to people's lives.

Mō te tuku tono | How to apply

• Applications will be reviewed as they come in, and this role will close on
  26 November 2025.
• For a copy of the
  role description
  , please click here.
• If you have any questions about the role, please contact
• Please click 'apply' and include your CV & cover letter as a pdf.
• Apply now