We’re recruiting!

Community Engagement Facilitator

Part-time, contractor position

Do you have excellent communication skills and a passion to connect people with nature? Would it excite you to help inspire and empower Auckland communities to be more flood resilient and to improve native biodiversity in the city?

Urban Ark - Manawa Taiao is an environmental charity which supports groups working to improve native biodiversity across the central Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. We connect through direct community engagement, a school education programme and Auckland Council’s Flood Resilience Programme.

We are looking for a part-time Community Engagement Facilitator to run our Community Flood Resilience (CFR) programme through 2026, and hopefully beyond. The Facilitator will be working closely with our partner organisations promoting flood resilience across three Tāmaki catchments.

The main responsibilities are:

Organising and running events (guided walks, weeding bees, planting days) to help connect residents with their awa (stream)
Liaising and collaborating with partner organisations – Friends of Oakley Creek and St Lukes Environmental Protection Society (STEPS) – to ensure smooth operation of events
Promoting flood resilience by running a door-knocking and survey programme
Being creative about how to effectively communicate with people living with the risk of flooding
Promoting neighbourhood connection in flood zones and along overland flow paths
Attending community festivals and markets promoting flood resilience
Fortnightly reporting
Attending fortnightly online meetings
Working with the rest of the Urban Ark team to integrate the flood resilience programme into its wider native biodiversity work
maintaining regular outreach to engaged community members through social media, newsletter etc

Funding permitting, we are looking to grow the role into a full time position in the next year with the role expanding to support Urban Ark’s landscape-scale community action for nature across the central isthmus of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The role is initially for 9 months although, funding permitting, could go well beyond this. The rate is likely to be $33-38/hr.

You will work from our base at Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre, at other sites in the community, or from home, as required. Hours are flexible, but you will need to be available for some scheduled evening and weekend events and meetings.

You will be working closely with other Urban Ark contractors and our Operations Manager who reports directly to a supportive Trust Board. Urban Ark’s core business is to support and enhance the conservation efforts of volunteer groups and individuals, catalyse new projects, increase wider community involvement and to foster a vision of connecting habitats where native species can thrive.

We are seeking someone with a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience working in community engagement in Aotearoa, including event planning, promotion and delivery. Knowledge of stream ecology would be a bonus but is not essential.

To apply, email a current CV and cover letter to [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] by midnight, Sunday 1 March. View a full position description (PDF, 114.40 kB).

We will only shortlist candidates with a current legal right to work in New Zealand.

Posted: 13 February 2026