Asset Manager - Water Supply and Stormwater

Nelson City Council; Nelson; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave

Fully subsidised health insurance

Generous leave provisions

Learning and professional development

Employee benefits and discounts

Meaningful work that shapes our future

Mountains, beaches and national parks

Job summary

Nelson City Council in Nelson is seeking an experienced water infrastructure professional to own the planning of water supply and stormwater assets. You will develop asset management plans, frame business cases, and guide investment decisions while aligning with reform and climate resilience considerations.

You will build partnerships with iwi and community groups, provide expert technical input, and work with Utilities Operations to ensure assets meet service levels.

Qualifications

• Experience in water supply and stormwater asset management.
• Knowledge of drinking water regulation and water sector reform.
• Experience in asset management and infrastructure investment planning.
• Understanding climate resilience in water asset planning.
• Strong writing and analytical skills.
• Experience engaging with iwi, community groups and partner agencies.
• NZ driver's licence; membership in professional engineering body or working towards it.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain water supply and stormwater asset management plans and statutory documents.
• Advise on water sector reform and drinking water requirements, including Taumata Arowai standards.
• Incorporate climate resilience into asset planning, including capacity and extreme weather.
• Prepare business cases and reports to support investment decisions and public consultation.
• Coordinate with Utilities Operations Delivery to maintain, renew and upgrade assets to service levels.
• Provide specialist technical input and evidence as required.

Skills

Water infrastructure

Asset management

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Education

Civil/Environmental Engineering degree

Job description

About Nelson City Council | E pā ana ki te Kaunihera o Whakatū

Our vision for Whakatū Nelson is a creative, prosperous and innovative city. Our community is inclusive, resilient, and connected - we care for each other and our environment.

About the role | Kō tēnei tūranga mahi

This new role sits in our Asset & Activity Planning business unit, reporting to the Manager Utilities Asset Planning. You'll own the planning for Council's water supply and stormwater assets, setting long-term direction through asset management plans, renewal priorities and well-evidenced business cases so Council invests in the right assets at the right time. Working closely with our Utilities Operations team, your plans and advice will guide how the network is managed, and what they learn on the ground will feed back into your planning. With water reform, new standards and climate-driven risk reshaping the sector, you'll bring the technical depth to help Council navigate the change with confidence.

You will:

• Develop and maintain water supply and stormwater asset management plans and statutory documents
• Advise on Council's response to water sector reform and drinking water requirements, including Taumata Arowai standards
• Build climate resilience into asset planning, including network capacity and extreme weather
• Prepare business cases and reports to support investment decisions, capital works and public consultation
• Work with Utilities Operations Delivery so assets are maintained, renewed and upgraded to agreed service levels
• Provide technical and strategic advice to support decision-making, policy and complex customer queries
• Build strong relationships with iwi, community groups and partner agencies
• Provide specialist technical input, including expert evidence where required

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

You're an experienced water infrastructure professional with a long-term view. You're comfortable turning complex technical data into clear, practical advice for elected members, senior leaders and the public. You build strong relationships, enjoy sharing your expertise and mentoring others, and you're energised by the opportunity to help shape how Council responds to water reform.

You will bring:

• Extensive knowledge of water supply and stormwater infrastructure and asset management
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, drinking water regulation and water sector reform
• Experience in asset management and infrastructure investment planning
• An understanding of climate resilience in water asset planning
• Strong analytical skills and a polished, business-focused writing style
• Experience engaging with iwi, community groups and partner agencies
• A tertiary qualification in civil, environmental or equivalent engineering, with professional membership (e.g. Engineering New Zealand or IPWEA) or working towards it
• A full current New Zealand driving licence

What we offer | Ko ngā painga mōu

• Wellbeing leave, platforms and initiatives
• Fully subsidised health insurance
• Generous leave provisions
• Learning and professional development opportunities
• A range of employee benefits and discounts
• Meaningful work that shapes our community's future
• Mountains, beaches and national parks on your doorstep

At Nelson City Council, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and has a true sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from diverse ethnicities and cultures, LGBTQ+ communities, neurodivergent individuals, and people with disabilities. If you require any assistance with your application, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Applications close | Rā whakakapi

Midnight on Tuesday 24 November 2026

For further enquiries | Ina he pātai anō, whakapā mai

Please reach out to our People & Capability team on [e-mail]