Manager Turf | Kaiwhakahaere Pātītī

Porirua is a growing and vibrant city where there’s always something happening. We want everyone to feel welcome – whether they’re visiting, living or working here. Our people are friendly and inclusive, and make Porirua City a strong vibrant community that reflects our rich diversity and one of the best places in Aotearoa to live, work and raise a family. We’re looking for people to join our team.

About the role

As our Manager Turf, you’ll be Council’s go-to specialist for all things turf. You’ll provide expert technical and strategic advice to guide the development, maintenance, and renewal of all Council-managed natural and synthetic sports fields. From policy development to hands-on oversight, you'll ensure Porirua’s playing surfaces are safe, playable, and presented to the highest standard.

In this role, you will:

• Serve as Council’s subject matter expert on sports turf management and sustainability.
• Lead the development of policy on turf use, sports surface performance, and long-term asset planning.
• Oversee major renovation programmes and capital renewal projects.
• Manage day-to-day operations across natural and synthetic fields, sports surfaces, and city-wide mowing.
• Lead and coach the turf and mowing teams to deliver against Service Level Agreements.
• Work closely with the bookings and events teams to support regional, national, and international fixtures, trainings, and events.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sports clubs, user groups, and community committees.

About you

You’ll bring a mix of technical expertise, leadership capability, and a passion for high-quality public spaces. You’ll be confident operating in a local government environment, comfortable navigating competing priorities, and skilled at building trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders.

To succeed in this role, you’ll have:

• A relevant sports turf management qualification (Level 4 minimum).
• Several years’ experience in the turf management industry or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience managing teams.
• Strong understanding of the local government environment.
• Experience in workplace health & safety management.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Strong administrative skills and confidence using asset databases and general computer systems.
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to supporting high-performing operational teams.
• Understanding and commitment to diverse workplaces, the Treaty of Waitangi, and bicultural practice.
• A Class 2 licence is an advantage, but not essential.

What you need to do now

Come and join our hardworking and committed Parks team and be part of our welcoming and engaging environment. Please contact Lydia Mihaka on 021 227 9730 or email Lydia.Mihaka@poriruacity.govt.nz for more information.

Porirua City embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications by people from all backgrounds and are a member of Diversity Works. If you have any support or access requirements during our recruitment process, please let us know when you apply, and we’ll do our best to get you sorted.

You will need to apply via our careers centre: www.poriruacity.govt.nz/careers.

To find out more about working for Porirua City Watch this video

Applications close on Thursday 5 February 2026.