People & Capability Business Partner

We’re looking for an experienced People & Capability Business Partner (Hoa Pakihi Tautāwhi Kaimahi) to join our small, high-performing People & Capability team.

This is not a learning role. We’re after someone who can jump in, build strong relationships quickly, and confidently support leaders from day one. You’ll be closely embedded with the business, working side-by-side with leaders and teams across the organisation to support the full employee lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding through to performance, change, and transitions.

We’re a tight-knit team who genuinely enjoy working together. We support one another, have a laugh, and care deeply about doing good work. We’re here to enable our people and leaders to succeed, and to upskill them along the way — not to overcomplicate things. If you like practical solutions, plain language, and making work easier for kaimahi, you’ll fit right in.

In this role, you will: 

• Partner closely with people leaders, providing trusted, practical, and strategic advice across a wide range of people matters.
• Confidently support leaders and employees through complex situations, including performance concerns and formal processes.
• Help teams plan for the future by supporting learning, development, and leadership capability.
• Translate policies into practical guidance, helping leaders understand the “why” and apply them confidently in the workplace.
• Support organisational change by keeping people informed, engaged, and well supported.
• Lead and deliver people-focused projects and initiatives that help make Council an even better place to work.

You’re an experienced HR professional who’s comfortable operating at pace and dealing with the realities of day-to-day people leadership. You know how to balance empathy with clarity, and you don’t shy away from the tough conversations.

You’ll bring:

• Solid experience supporting people leaders with everyday and complex people matters.
• The ability to build trust quickly and provide fair, balanced advice — especially when things are challenging.
• Confidence in guiding others through difficult conversations and formal processes.
• A good understanding of remuneration, role design, and policies, and the ability to explain these clearly and simply.
• A genuine interest in developing people, with experience supporting learning and capability uplift.
• Strong organisation and communication skills, with a commitment to inclusive ways of working.
• A proactive, values-driven mindset and a desire to make a positive difference.
• A sense of humour — and an appreciation for working with fun, supportive colleagues.

This is a great opportunity to be part of an innovative team focused on building a better a future for our people and our community. If you are interested in learning more about the role, our team or our Council please see the job description, or email Nita McFadzean on [email protected]

The role closes on 28 February 2026.

He rau ringa e pakari ai ngā taura whiri i ō tātou kāinga noho me ō tātou hapori – mai i te pae maunga o Tararua ki te moana With many hands the threads which weave our neighbourhoods and communities together will be strengthened from the Tararua Ranges to the sea.

Apply now