People & Capability Business Partner
He angitūtanga - The opportunity
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.
He kōrero mōu - About you
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.
Tā tātou ahurea – Our culture
Horowhenua District Council is proud to be an inclusive workplace; we celebrate difference, diversity, and aim to empower our employees. We are an organisation built on innovation and optimism, and are embarking on an organisation reset. We are motivated to build a place where we value our people and provide opportunities for them to build outstanding careers and better Horowhenua.
We want you to bring you to work, enjoy what you do so that we can support other to do the same.
Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou - What we offer
As an organisation, we provide an exceptional work environment driven by inspirational leadership. Our team consists of passionate, supportive, and committed members who are dedicated to making a positive impact on both current and future generations.
Our journey of improvement and solution focus means engaging in meaningful work that directly influences the lives of our Community. We prioritise work-life balance and understand the importance of personal well-being, offering an extra day for wellness every quarter to ensure our team's holistic health is valued.
Tono mai ināianei - Apply now
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 nitam@horowhenua.govt.nz. The role closes on 22 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.
