Chief Executive Officer
Hawke's Bay
- Inaugural CEO of Hawke’s Bay’s new publicly owned water services entity
- Lead a $1.25 billion infrastructure programme across three districts
- Shape essential infrastructure for Hawke’s Bay communities for generations
- Hawke’s Bay based
About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga mahi
Water Hawke’s Bay Limited is an incorporated water services organisation formed by Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, and Central Hawke’s Bay Council under the Government’s Local Water Done Well reform programme.
As a multi-council water entity, it will serve 144,000 people across three districts, managing approximately 52,000 connections and consolidated drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater networks, with a mission to deliver safe, reliable, financially sustainable, and environmentally responsible water services for the people of Hawke’s Bay.
The Chief Executive Officer will lead Water Hawke’s Bay Limited into its operational future: building its culture and completing the transition from three council-operated services into one cohesive entity. Central to this will be building trusted relationships with mana whenua, communities, and shareholder councils.
About you | Ko wai koe
We are seeking a forward-thinking executive leader with proven capability in building organisations and capability, managing complex multi-stakeholder relationships, and delivering large-scale infrastructure programmes.
The successful candidate will have:
- Proven success ideally at Chief Executive level through establishment or transformation in a complex, multi-stakeholder, asset-intensive environment such as infrastructure, utilities, water services or the public sector.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience with oversight of significant asset portfolios, capital programmes, and long-term financial strategy that balances sustainability with community affordability.
- A proven track record of building, developing and leading high-performing teams from the ground up, driving a culture of accountability and delivery.
- Experience navigating complex governance and stakeholder environments.
- Credibility and public presence with the confidence to lead open and honest stakeholder conversations about water costs, investment, and the long-term future of the region's water services.