Senior Business Partner

Kia mahi ngātahi mō Pōneke mō tōna āpōpō | Working together for Wellington's future

We're excited to introduce a brand-new opportunity to join our People & Capability Group in a pivotal role that will shape the future of our workforce.

As our first Senior Business Partner Workforce Planning, you'll lead the development of a strategic workforce planning function from the ground up. A rare chance to make a lasting impact.

Āu ake mahi | What you'll do

In this role, you'll design and implement a workforce planning framework and multi-year plans that aligns with the Council's long-term plan and strategic direction. Your work will ensure we have the right talent for now and into the future.You'll partner with senior leaders to interpret business plans, identify workforce implications, and provide strategic advice on trends, risks, and opportunities. Your ability to use predictive modelling and data analysis to unpick complex problems and translate them into compelling insights will be key to your success.

You'll build forecasting tools, dashboards and scenario models, working closely with our HRIS and Remuneration teams to ensure data integrity and deliver insights that drive action. Collaboration will be central to your approach as you embed workforce planning into business-as usual and bring people along on the journey.

Ngā tohu me ngā wheako | Qualifications and experience

To thrive in this role, you'll hold a bachelor's degree in human resource management, business, or a related field, and bring at least seven years of experience in workforce planning, strategic HR advisory, or organisational development within large and complex organisations. Experience within a unique organisation like ours, with a diverse range of position types, is highly preferable. You'll have a strong track record of developing and implementing workforce planning tools and frameworks that align with business priorities, and of creating workforce plans that identify current and future workforce needs, capability gaps, and succession risks. Your expertise in analytics and data interpretation will be essential, along with confidence using workforce planning tools and HRIS systems.

You'll be a strategic thinker, a confident communicator, and a natural problem solver who can influence at all levels. You'll need to be comfortable navigating ambiguity, interpreting business challenges, and designing practical, data-informed solutions that support long-term sustainability.

We are looking to appoint between $123,624 and $136,131 per annum, for this role, depending on relevant skills and experience.

To view the position description, please visit our careers page: Senior Business Partner - Workforce Planning - Wellington City Council

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

Diversity:

We want your application to enable you to portray the real you. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the advert through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We welcome applications from all people and like our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

Accessibility Support:

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, 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 to make our process more accessible to you by emailing:

Applications close 19 November 2025. Please note that we may engage with applicants prior to the vacancy closing and/or close applications ahead of this date so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

All applications must be submitted online – we will not accept emailed applications.

All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.

If you have questions, please contact Carla Flynn, HR Services Manager,