Tauranga City Council Position Description
Position Title:
Heart of the City Strategic
Communications & Engagement
Advisor
Position Number:
Group:
Transformation
Division:
Responsible To:
Heart of the City Programme Director
Responsible For:
4HC204
City Transformation
HOC Communications & Engagement Advisor
Position Status:
Fixed-term June 2018 (Part-time 0.5 FTE)
Date:
January 2017
Position Purpose:
This position exists to:
Develop and manage the Change Communication and Engagement Strategy for the
Heart of the City programme through communication, engagement and place based
activities and plans. Measure and monitor outcomes against agreed programme
change communication and engagement objectives. Develop and maintain strategic
relationships with the Elected Members and stakeholders.
Delegated
Authority:
Refer to Council Delegation Manual
Organisation Context:
TCC Ref: 6553524
Functional Relationships:
External
Internal
External Committees and Groups

Elected Members


Relevant user groups and trusts

Tauranga Residents

Other government departments and
local government
Heart of the City
Programme Director

Heart of the City
Communications Advisor

Heart of the City
Programme Manager City Centre

Relevant community and
stakeholder groups

Iwi & Hapu

Media

Graphic designers /
suppliers


Communications
Manager
Strategic partners
(Priority One, Tourism
Bay of Plenty, Creative
Bay of Plenty, University
of Waikato)

Communications team

ELT

Group Leadership Team

Web Publishers

TCC staff

TCC Ref: 6553524
Key Result Areas:
Success looks like….
What I am supposed to do
1. Heart of City Programme







Prepare and implement Heart of the City
Change
Communication
and
Engagement Strategy.
Provide regular advice and support to the
project
communications
team,
programme
director
and
project
managers, about change communication
and engagement tactics.
Prepare strategic communication and
engagement plans for Heart of the City
Projects.
Identify
and
manage
risks
and
opportunities in a proactive manner for
the HOC programme.
Prepare and present communication,
engagement activation strategies and
plans and results to Elected Members,
Committees, Council & Project Steering
Committee
Work
in
partnership
with
the
communications team to ensure planned
activity and advice is aligned with
communications business plan
Any organisational reputation issues or
risks
are
escalated
to
the
communications manager





Communication plans achieved, or exceed, anticipated
outcomes for organisation-wide projects.
The ‘rest of the organisation’ knows relevant
information about Heart of the City Programme in a
timely manner
The Strategic Communications and Engagement
Advisor has gained respect and is seen as a credible,
positive team member from the people they work with.
Communications activity support the outcomes of TCC
communications business plan
Reputational risks and issues are proactively reported
to communications manager
2. Organisational Communication





Create two-way conversations between
the Council and the community as
required.
Ensure the content and timing of all
activity is aligned and integrated into the
communications activity of TCC
Provide
regular
reports/update
to
communications manager
Actively
support
all
internal
communication initiatives.
Measurement of all change and
communication activity is expected and
achieved.







Policies and guidelines for change management and
communications are adhered to – including branding,
website, social media and community engagement
policies
Content timing and style is consistent with TCC
commutations team activity
Communications manager is able to respond in real
time to any query about the communications activity of
this project
Council produced information (hard copy, social media
and web) is easy for people to access and understand
and it is accurate and timely.
Feedback mechanisms for community response are
appropriately supported (processes as well as
outcomes)
Regular internal communication initiatives are
interesting, innovative and gain high level of support
from staff.
3. Relationship Management


Establish
positive
and
effective
relationships with staff and elected
members, within the Group/s (especially
communications team), with the media
and with key stakeholders.
Provide advice and assistance to
external
parties
in
relation
to


Honest and open communication between the council,
communications team and media is maintained and
supported
Advice and assistance given to external parties is
received with confidence as both accurate and
appropriate
TCC Ref: 6553524
communication tactics and activities.

Two-way communication is maintained with external
stakeholders.

Meaningful Performance Reviews are held in line with
TCC Performance Management policy.

Learning and Development plans are in place and
supported for all team members.

Performance Improvement Plans in place to ensure
poor performance is managed in an effective manner
for both parties.

Annual TCC Staff Survey Reports reflect effective
people and performance management and team
engagement.

All positions are filled by suitably qualified and
competent staff.

Personnel policies are observed and HR processes
implemented on time to standard.

Evidence points to a competent, motivated and
professional workforce, performing efficiently and
effectively.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing initiatives are supported
and actioned as part of standard work practices.

Code of Conduct, Corporate Policies, Processes,
Systems and Business Conventions are used when
undertaking this position.

Council policies are followed.

You actively participate in training initiatives.

Our Sustainable Steps corporate sustainability strategy
is applied to your work practices.

Legislative obligations are followed.

You actively participate when TCC needs to activate its
Emergency Management plans.

You openly take on other duties as reasonably
requested of you
4.Managing People
 Provide leadership, support and
development for your team member
through: setting clear and consistent
standards, developing and empowering
others, building commitment and trust
with your people, addressing
performance related issues, managing
conflict and building effective teams.
 Effectively lead your team member in its
support of the executive and delivery of
agreed programmes and services.
 Lead the successful implementation of
Corporate and people and culture
initiatives.
 Promote and maintain a culture that
achieves a high level of morale within the
team and encourages performance,
productivity, openness, employee
satisfaction and trust.
 Instil at all levels a strong customer
service ethic, focused on high levels of
community satisfaction with the services
provided.
5. Key Corporate Responsibilities

Actively participates in complies with all
Health, Safety & Wellbeing initiatives and
requirements.

Uses Code of Conduct, Corporate
policies,
Procedures,
processes,
Systems and Business Conventions
when undertaking roles

Adheres to Council policies

Staff are supported to actively identify
and participate in training initiatives to
develop themselves and their role
specific skills

Actively
supports
our
corporate
sustainability strategy, Sustainable Steps

Supports and participates in all relevant
legislation and undertakes obligations.
TCC Ref: 6553524
Person Specifications:
Qualifications
Essential:
Desirable:


Post Graduate qualification in change
management, communications or public relations
or related field

ADKAR accreditation
Tertiary qualification in Change Management,
Communication, Project Management, public
relations or related field
Knowledge and Experience
Essential:
Desirable:

Five years working experience with internal
and external communication projects with
proven results

Knowledge of Local Government Act and other
relevant legislation


Experience of working with social media
A minimum of five years relevant experience
in the change management field


Familiar with Adobe, Photoshop, Publisher
software packages
Demonstrated experience of ability to work
with elected officials, public, media,
community organisations; including
democratic processes

Proven experience in managing multiple
projects/process/guidelines and people

Clear knowledge of the use of different
communication channels (incl. on-line
platforms, video, print, photography, etc.)

Strong intermediate IT skills including use of
all Microsoft packages.

Proven excellent customer service skills

Demonstrated organisational skills

Demonstrated excellent written and verbal
communication skills

Strong ability to create and maintain networks
as well as coach and motivate people

Proven experience of working on community
engagement projects

Confident and self motivated with an ability to
work independently as well as within a team
structure

Current Full Drivers Licence
TCC Ref: 6553524
Key Behaviours
Tauranga City Council’s key behaviours are:
TCC People: A person who is fully effective is friendly and professional. They recognise each other’s
contributions, are open and honest, while being respectful, and know how and when to have fun.

People First: A person who is fully effective would provide outstanding service (internal and external)
every time by consistently meeting expectations for customer service delivery, regularly engaging with
customers to ensure that we are meeting their needs, maintaining a focus on ensuring business
processes are designed to improve efficiencies and ensuring they have the knowledge and ability to
provide good customer service.

Working together: A person who is fully effective would work together with others to make a
difference, by delivering on their commitments, sharing the load, showing initiative, acknowledging the
roles and responsibilities of others, and celebrating achievements.

Effective Communication: A person who is fully effective would use appropriate communication
actions for their audience/s, always act in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner, is careful about
the use of jargon and technical terms, use approved methods for the message and the audience,
actively listen, receive feedback and check for understanding.

Personal Effectiveness: A person, who is fully effective gets things done and makes things happen
by helping out, has a high standard of work, puts forward ideas, knowing where they fit in, recognises
work well done and learns from their mistakes.
Job Specific Competencies required for this role:

Project Management: A person who is fully effective takes an active role in supporting and/or driving
the implementation of activities and projects within their own and other activity areas of Council. They
develop and lead projects within Council that stem from the Activity Area Plan. They take responsibility
for their own and others’ actions and take overall accountability for the effectiveness of the process as
well as the outcome.

Concern for Quality: A person who is fully effective implements and monitors the standards for
quality within their area of responsibility, ensures we operate in an ethical manner, incorporates quality
measures into operational thinking and recommends further enhancements to quality measures. They
oversee activity area operations to ensure attention is given to detail and will deliver a high quality, right
first time, service.

Planning and Organising: A person who is fully effective will plan and organise themselves
effectively to lead some aspect of, and implement, the Activity Area Plan in order to deliver on the
LTCCP. They will prioritise time and resources to meet agreed deadlines, factor in operational
constraints and environmental factors, break large projects down to manageable bites and have
effective contingency plans in place.

Impact and Influence: A person who is fully effective has well developed skills at gaining co-operation
and support from other people and achieving ‘win-win’ solutions, makes a positive impact on their
immediate Activity Area and the wider organisation, uses their intuition to understand other’s
perspectives, using this to tailor their own message, and has a clear appreciation of how they come
across to others.
TCC Ref: 6553524