The stakeholder engagement director would lead a team of 20 communication and customer service professionals, the advertisement said.
Council chief executive Peter Bodeker said this figure included all the current stakeholder engagement group, including field staff and customer services staff.
Current director Caroline Rowe was retiring for personal reasons, Mr Bodeker said.
Asked about the strategic aims behind the appointment of a new people and capability director, he said the role reflected a ``greater emphasis on people and having that person as part of the management team''.
Responsibilities would also include health and safety and organisation development.
The council is also advertising for an emergency management officer, to join the Otago Civil Defence emergency management group, and to be based mainly in the Dunedin area.
Applications for all three posts close on April 9.
