Permanent Full-Time | Gisborne District Council Office

We're looking for an Official Information & Privacy Requests Officer to join our Democracy and Support Services team. This is a pivotal role that sits at the heart of how we serve our community and honour our obligations under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) and the Privacy Act 2020.

Mō te tūranga | About the position  

You'll be the go-to person for all things LGOIMA and privacy, coordinating requests, advising staff, writing and peer reviewing responses, and making sure we're meeting our statutory obligations with care and consistency. You'll also be our representative with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Ombudsman and play a key role in leading our response to any privacy breaches and Ombudsman enquiries.

Day to day, you'll be working across the organisation guiding managers and staff, delivering training, keeping our guidance documents current, and spotting opportunities for us to be more proactively transparent with our community.

No two days will look the same, and your judgement, discretion, and ability to communicate clearly will be called on regularly.

Ngā Mahi ngā Takohanga Matua rānei | Duties include:

• Manage end-to-end processing of all LGOIMA and Privacy Act requests, ensuring timely and lawful responses

• Apply sound judgement to assess requests, including what information can be released, redacted, or withheld

• Write and / or peer review responses before release to ensure accuracy and consistency

• Act as Council's representative with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Ombudsman

• Lead the response to notifiable privacy breaches from investigation through to resolution in conjunction with the Democracy Manager

• Advise and educate staff across the organisation on LGOIMA and privacy obligations

• Deliver training and keep internal guidance resources current and accessible

• Report regularly on trends, risks, and metrics to senior leadership

Ngā Pūkenga me Ngā Wheako e Hiahia ana | Skills and experience required:

• Knowledge of LGOIMA and/or the Privacy Act 2020 (or a strong appetite to develop it quickly)

• Experience interpreting and applying legislation or working within compliance frameworks

• Sound judgement, political awareness, and a thoughtful approach to sensitive situations

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• 3–5 years in a public sector or governance-related role

Ngā Huanga | Benefits

• Wellbeing first: Ora Day, Piritahi Day, EAP, flu jabs, health checks & optional access to our Fitness Passport package

• Whanaungatanga: Waiata group, Te Reo kawhe kōrero, staff events

• Perks: Modern offices, eye exams, Southern Cross discounts, retail perks

• Growth: A values-led environment where your development is supported

• Location: Live and work in stunning Gisborne – close to the beach, rivers and bush

He aha ngā painga o te kaunihera | Why work for Gisborne District Council

Gisborne District Council is one of only six unitary authorities in Aotearoa, meaning we deliver both district and regional council mahi. We’re committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, weaving te ao Māori into everything we do, and making a real difference for the people and places of Tairāwhiti.

Our mahi is diverse — from looking after roads, water, rubbish and recycling, to protecting our environment, supporting community facilities like pools, parks and libraries, and shaping the region’s future through planning and governance. With over 500 staff, we’re a team that’s passionate about making Tairāwhiti a thriving place to live, work and play.

Me pēhea te tono mai | How to Apply

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your application via our careers page: www.gdc.govt.nz/council/careers – Job Vacancies.

For more information, email recruitment@gdc.govt.nz.
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the position will be filled once the right candidate is identified.

To view the full job description, visit our careers page: www.gdc.govt.nz/council/careers and check the job attachments section.