- Critical enterprise‑wide risk, compliance, audit and assurance leadership role
- Shape robust risk, compliance and audit frameworks from day one
- Play a pivotal role in building a trusted, transparent new water entity
Shape the governance, risk and compliance foundations of this essential new water services organisation for the Wellington metropolitan region.
A new chapter is starting for water services in Wellington’s metropolitan area. From 1 July 2026, Tiaki Wai will take over responsibility for providing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services to approximately 433,000 residents across Wellington City, Porirua City, Hutt City, and Upper Hutt City.
As a council-owned water services organisation, oversight will be maintained by a Partners Committee made up of representatives from shareholding councils and mana whenua (Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira). From 1 July, Tiaki Wai will bill customers directly for water services, meaning it can make more prioritised, sustainable investment and borrowing decisions. Councils will also transfer their water assets to Tiaki Wai, giving it the independence, resources, and region-wide perspective to effectively manage and improve water services for current and future communities.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO) will play a critical role in establishing, leading and embedding the risk, compliance, audit, and assurance framework for Tiaki Wai. This is a senior leadership position responsible for building an enterprise‑wide risk framework, ensuring regulatory compliance, assurance and organisational resilience and delivering high‑quality governance support as Company Secretary. The role will shape the systems, controls and organisational disciplines that ensure accountability, transparency, and long‑term sustainability across drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.
Based in Wellington, the CRCO will develop and lead an integrated approach to risk and compliance that is forward‑looking, evidence‑based and aligned with regulatory, environmental and community expectations. They will provide assurance to the Board and ELT on organisational risk exposure and oversee key regulatory and legislative obligations and compliance activities. As Company Secretary, they will ensure robust Board processes, best‑practice governance standards and high‑quality advice that supports informed decision‑making.
The successful appointee will bring significant senior experience in risk and compliance within complex, heavily regulated environments. A legal or compliance background is essential, along with strong judgement, analytical capability, and the ability to translate complex regulatory and risk concepts into clear organisational direction and to embed a culture of understanding and compliance. Experience supporting Boards, leading enterprise risk frameworks and overseeing assurance activity will be critical. Given the establishment nature of the entity, the ability to lead through ambiguity, design new systems, and embed organisation‑wide disciplines will be vital, as will the ability to effectively manage a range of stakeholders, including regulators, councils and mana whenua partners. The appointee will be an inclusive, transparent and collaborative leader, able to navigate competing priorities and maintain the highest standards of integrity, whilst embracing and leading significant change and transformation in this dynamic new entity of scale.
For more information or to apply, please contact Hobson Leavy Executive Search: tiakiwai@hobsonleavy.com.
Applications close at 5.00pm Friday 20th March 2026.
