Executive Director

• Rare opportunity to lead an industry body
• Drive advocacy, influence and sector leadership
• Auckland or Wellington based.

 
Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA) represents the interests of New Zealand’s hotel sector, bringing together approximately 250 hotels alongside owners, operators and industry partners.
 
Established during a period of significant disruption, HCA has quickly built credibility advocating on the issues that matter most to hotel performance, investment and growth. As the organisation enters its next phase of moving from establishment to a more mature, sustainable and influential industry body, we are seeking an experienced and credible Executive Director to lead this evolution.
 

About the Role
Reporting to the Board, you will lead the organisation’s strategic direction, advocacy agenda and stakeholder engagement, while ensuring strong financial and operational performance. You will work alongside, and represent the sector with credibility and authority, influencing outcomes on key policy, regulatory and commercial issues.
 
This is a hands-on leadership role in a lean organisation. You will balance strategy with execution, driving membership engagement, delivering events and communications, and strengthening systems and processes as the organisation continues to grow.
 
You will work alongside the current Strategic Director over an initial period, maintaining continuity of sector knowledge and relationships while progressively lifting organisational capability.
 

About you
 You are a senior leader with strong sector credibility, commercial acumen and the ability to operate confidently at a peer level with senior decision-makers.
 
You will offer:

• Proven strategic leadership experience, working effectively with a board
• Strong commercial and financial capability in a lean organisational setting
• Credibility with the hotel sector or closely aligned industries
• Extensive stakeholder engagement and advocacy experience
• Highly developed communication and influencing skills
• A hands-on, adaptable approach suited to a small team environment
• The maturity to operate effectively in a transition context, balancing continuity with change

 
Why this role?
This is your opportunity to grow and mature a national industry body and play a key role in shaping the future of New Zealand’s hotel sector.
 
 
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday 22 June 2026
APPLY OR VIEW THE POSITION DESCRIPTION:  www.jacksonstone.co.nz
REFERENCE:  BH-11647
 
FURTHER ENQUIRIES: Emma Dewson on 027 218 4129