Chief Executive Officer
Taranaki
- Lead the establishment of Wai Hononga Water Services Limited
- Create a lasting legacy for Taranaki communities
- Taranaki (preferably New Plymouth) based
- Attractive remuneration package
About the Role
Wai Hononga Water Services Limited is a new Water Services Council Controlled Organisation (WSCCO) established under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, owned 100% by New Plymouth District Council (NPDC). It will be responsible, from 1 July 2027, for the delivery of water services (drinking/wastewater services and, possibly, services relating to NPDC’s stormwater assets) to the New Plymouth region. The scale of the role is significant with an approximate workforce of 75 FTE, annual turnover $55m, a total asset value of $750m and 32,000 water connections across the district.
This is a great opportunity to lead an organisation from inception. As Chief Executive you will guide Wai Hononga through the remainder of its establishment phase, building the systems, frameworks, and culture required for operational readiness and then lead the organisation to deliver financially sustainable water services and high-performance operations into the future.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will hold accountability for everything from strategic direction and financial sustainability to regulatory compliance, public health outcomes, and meaningful engagement with key stakeholders.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading development and delivery of the Establishment Plan to bring Wai Hononga to full operational readiness by 1 July 2027
- Setting strategic direction in partnership with the Board, with a long-term view on infrastructure, regulation, and sustainability
- Driving operational excellence across water services delivery, asset management, financial performance, and public health compliance
- Building and embedding a strong organisational culture with health, safety, and wellbeing at its core
- Maintaining effective governance
- Complying with all regulatory requirements
- Engaging authentically with mana whenua, NPDC, key regulators and the community
- Actively identifying opportunities for collaboration with other water services providers.
What you’ll bring
Candidates of interest will be senior leaders in commercial organisations, regulated network utilities, local government, CCO or related sectors, ideally with experience leading the establishment or transformation of complex infrastructure organisations. We're looking for an exceptional leader with:
- High commercial and financial competency, with a strong track record of delivery
- Experience managing significant asset portfolios, network management and service delivery
- Proven ability to build high-performing teams, alignment to vision and leading successfully through ambiguity and change
- A track record of delivering strategic goals and complex initiatives in a regulated environment
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to engage credibly with boards, councils, regulators and communities.
- Experience engaging authentically with iwi, hapū and māori organisations, ideally in an infrastructure context.
This is a legacy role. You’ll be instrumental in building a new organisation that will serve the people of Taranaki for generations. You’ll work with committed partners, have a clear mandate, and the opportunity to lead from the front.