Kaiwhakahoahoa Auaha - Creative Designer

Because even the smallest piece of content is a chance to connect

At Western Bay of Plenty District Council, we don't do design for the sake of it — we do it to make everyday content feel anything but ordinary.

Forget beige bureaucracy. This is design work that matters.

Design that delivers - for people.

We've built a brand that's practical, confident, and built to connect. It reflects who we are — and we're looking for a designer who can help us keep it that way, while continuing to evolve it with care and clarity.

This isn't just a design job. It's a chance to influence, improve, and lead the visual direction of a whole organisation. You'll step into a role that's already thinking ahead — shaping a brand with solid bones and bringing it to life through the mahi, the tools, and the way we show up across the District.

And with the rise of AI, automation, and design-led thinking, this isn't just about making content. It's about making change — and making it matter.


The opportunity

This is your chance to shape how Council shows up — visually, strategically, and consistently.

As our Creative Designer, you'll lead the visual expression of our brand across everything we do — from big creative campaigns to the humble Council doc. Your mahi will help make Council's communications clear, accessible, and recognisably us.

You'll be part of the Communications Team, but the design craft will be yours to lead. That includes providing light-touch guidance to others across the organisation who support design work — helping maintain quality and consistency while continuing to evolve how our brand is used.

From signage to social media, storytelling to spreadsheets, you'll bring structure and creativity to a wide variety of formats. And with smart use of AI tools and design systems, you'll help us work more efficiently and deliver better content at scale.

This is a hands-on role with room to grow — where strong visual judgement, practical design skills, and a people-first mindset will make a real difference.

This is a full-time role based in Tauranga.

You'll thrive in this role if you:

Love purposeful, creative work that helps people connect, understand, and take action
Can work confidently from brief to delivery — solo
Know how to work within an established brand while also knowing when to stretch or evolve it
Are excited by the potential of AI tools and smart systems to make good design faster and better
Enjoy balancing craft with clarity — especially when designing in a government context
Can juggle multiple projects without dropping the ball — from a social tile to a 100-page document
Like working closely with comms advisors and project leads — even if you're the only designer in the room
Are happy to provide guidance to others who support with design — while owning the big picture and setting the visual direction across Council

To set you up for success, you'll have:

5+ years of end-to-end design experience, ideally in an in-house or fast-paced setting
A degree in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
A portfolio that shows your ability to apply and adapt brand systems across both print and digital
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Canva
Familiarity with AI design tools
Strong layout, typography, and visual hierarchy skills
Experience managing your own workload and delivering to deadline
Confidence working collaboratively and advocating for good design

What we offer:

We're focused on making the everyday better — for our people and our communities. That means backing our teams with the support, flexibility, and development they need to succeed.

Here's what we offer:

Five weeks annual leave
A competitive employment package - including subsidised medical insurance
Flexible work arrangements and a pet friendly work environment
Sick leave from day one
Tailored development and learning opportunities
Access to wellbeing resources and workplace support
Free onsite parking

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work permit.

Applications close 11.55pm Friday 18 July, 2025

For further information please call the People Team on 0800 926 732.

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