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Building a new water services organisation from scratch is complex, fast-moving work. As a trusted partner to the Programme Director and delivering high-level executive and administrative support, this role creates real leverage across everything Southern Waters is trying to achieve. The Executive Assistant will enable the Programme Director and broader team to remain focused on strategic delivery, keep the board well supported, and hold the operational threads together across multiple councils, workstreams, and deadlines.

As the Executive Assistant and Business Support, you will be a trusted partner to the Programme Director, supporting the board and the broader operational needs of the Southern Waters programme. This is a fixed term role until December 2027. Working mostly from home initially, moving to an office base over time and the successful candidate may need to travel within the Southern Waters region.

You will:

Be the Programme Director's trusted partner across communications, calendar, and correspondence, anticipating needs, protecting priorities, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks
Own board administration end to end, from preparing and circulating meeting packs to attending and minuting meetings and maintaining governance records
Support the organisation's operational rhythm by managing deadlines, tracking reporting obligations, coordinating workshops and events, and supporting the production of key documents
Serve as the connective tissue between the Programme Director, workstream leads, council staff, specialist advisors, and external stakeholders across multiple districts
Champion systems and tools that improve how the team works, including acting as the go-to person for Microsoft 365 across the programme
Southern Waters - Executive Assistant and Business Support job description

We are interested in capability, mindset, and the personal qualities you bring. Ideally, you will have:

Proven experience as an executive assistant or in a senior administrative role, ideally supporting senior leaders in a complex or fast-paced environment
Advanced Microsoft 365 skills, with the ability to champion new tools and support others
Strong written communication skills, including; drafting correspondence, reports, and formal documents to a high standard
Experience supporting governance processes, including board or committee administration
Excellent calendar, coordination, and logistics management across competing priorities
Sound judgement, initiative, and the ability to navigate ambiguity with confidence
Full driver's licence
Desirable:

Experience in the public sector, infrastructure, utilities, or a regulated environment
Experience working in a programme environment
About Southern Waters

Southern Waters is a new, jointly owned council water services organisation being established by Central Otago District Council, Clutha District Council, and Gore District Council under the Government’s Local Water Done Well framework.

From 1 July 2027, Southern Waters will be responsible for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across the three districts. The organisation will serve around 59,000 residents, manage more than 3,100 km of pipeline, dozens of treatment plants, and deliver a $560 million capital works programme over the next decade.

Currently in its establishment and transition phase, Southern Waters presents a unique opportunity to help design a new organisation from the ground up and shape how future water services operate.

Why Join Southern Waters?

Contribute to region-shaping transformation work with lasting community impact
Build programme and leadership capability at scale
Work collaboratively with councils across Otago and Southland
Southern Waters official website

Applications close: 31/03/26