- Coordinate sector-wide planning and collaboration
- Turn strategy into action through trusted relationships
- shape national impact in sports and recreation
Shape Planning and Collaboration that Drive Sport and Recreation Across Aotearoa New Zealand
Are you a skilled planner who thrives on bringing people together to make things happen? Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa is looking for an Activity and Sector Engagement Planning Lead to bring structure, coordination, and connection to how the sport and recreation sector plans and delivers its work.
The Role
Reporting to the Manager, Planning & Engagement, this role plays a key part in aligning people, processes, and priorities across Sport NZ and its partners. You will coordinate the flow of information and activity across multiple moving parts, ensuring plans are not only well designed but also well executed through genuine engagement and collaboration.
This is a newly created position that brings together elements of planning, relationship management, and change delivery. You will lead the design and implementation of consistent planning frameworks and tools that help turn strategic intent into action. You will also play a central role in embedding new technology systems that improve how information is shared and decisions are made across the sector.
Your success will depend as much on your interpersonal strengths as on your technical planning capability. The role calls for someone who can read the room, build trust quickly, and guide diverse stakeholders toward a shared path forward, even when priorities compete.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Sector Planning Processes: Coordinate the development and implementation of annual and multi-year activity and engagement plans that connect Sport NZ and its network of partners.
- Drive Alignment and Delivery: Ensure planning cycles, milestones, and reporting processes work cohesively to support the organisation’s strategic priorities.
- Foster Collaboration: Build strong, trusted relationships across Sport NZ and the sector, enabling teams to align on priorities and deliver results together.
- Support Systems Implementation: Champion the use of new planning and CRM systems, ensuring they are adopted effectively and contribute to improved coordination and visibility.
- Enable Continuous Improvement: Identify and lead opportunities to improve planning capability, processes, and engagement approaches across Sport NZ.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience leading planning or programme coordination in a complex organisation or partnership-based environment.
- Strong relationship management skills, with the confidence to connect with and influence a wide range of cross functional forums.
- Experience managing organisational or sector-wide processes, projects, or performance frameworks.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the confidence to lead conversations that bring clarity and alignment.
- A collaborative, calm, and organised approach that ensures activity runs smoothly, even in dynamic and fast-moving environments.
- An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to contributing to Sport NZ’s responsibilities under Te Tiriti.
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to play a key role in how Sport NZ and its partners work together to deliver impact across Aotearoa. You will bring people and plans into alignment, helping to ensure that the energy and expertise across the system are directed toward shared goals for participation, wellbeing, and community connection.
If you enjoy creating order from complexity and helping people work together to deliver tangible results, we would love to hear from you.
Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated
For More Information
For a confidential conversation or to request a copy of the candidate pack, please contact:
Richard Gray-Smith – Director, IN SIDE Recruitment
E: richard@inside.co.nz
Jeremy McLeod – Senior Associate, IN SIDE Recruitment
E: jeremy@inside.co.nz
