Operations Liaison Engineer

Greater Wellington Regional Council; Wellington; On-site; NZD 107,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated Flood Operations team as an Operations Liaison Engineer, playing a crucial role in safeguarding communities from flooding. With a focus on collaboration and technical expertise, this fixed-term position offers a competitive salary and a supportive work environment, emphasizing personal and cultural identity.

Benefits

Flexible working policy

Learning and development opportunities

Medical and trauma insurance

Employee assistance programme

Social clubs and staff networks

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in flood risk management.
• Strong relationship skills to navigate project teams.
• Capability in te ao Māori and/or willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Ensure infrastructure assets from Flood Protection Works are constructable and maintainable.
• Collaborate with mana whenua, government, and community groups.
• Represent Area Engineers and Operations teams in project discussions.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Job description

We're looking for an enthusiastic and future focused person to join our dedicated Flood Operations team. This role is fixed term to June 2026 and will work across the region. You'll be based at our Cuba Street office at least two days a week but can also work out of our depots in Lower Hutt, Ōtaki and Masterton.

The Flood Operations team has undergone a comprehensive process to ensure it is set up for success. This is an exciting time to join a team that plays a crucial role in safeguarding our communities from flooding, while also maintaining and overseeing our flood resilience efforts across the region.

About the role:

As Operations Liaison Engineer, your solution-oriented approach, sound advice, and technical expertise will ensure that, upon the completion of the Flood Protection Works programme and the Riverlink project, Greater Wellington receives infrastructure assets that are both constructable and maintainable.

You will leverage your strong relationship skills to navigate between the Flood Operations team and various project teams, representing the perspectives of the Area Engineers and Operations teams. Your efforts will ensure that the final outcomes are beneficial for everyone, including the communities we are protecting. This collaboration will involve working closely with mana whenua, central government, local councils, community groups, and landowners.

Skills and experience required:

This is an important role in our team, and you will ideally have river engineering and management experience. We are also looking for:

• A minimum of 10 years' experience, including flood risk management (river, catchment or drainage) or river management. Familiarity with the workings of a public sector organisation is preferable.
• An understanding of asset management and how design solutions and support required operational maintenance work programmes.
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills to influence through effective application of knowledge and logic, and to understand the need to target communications to a level appropriate for the audience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentations and report writing.
• Skilled in problem solving with sound decision making ability.
• Capability in te ao Māori and/or the desire to learn and build your own and others' capability.

What we offer:

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We'll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression.
• Your wellbeing is our priority - we'll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme, including Rongoā Māori partner providers, along with Tangihanga leave and support.
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments across our beautiful region.

Come help treasure and grow our rohe together

Our rohe and its lands, waterways, animals, plants and people can only grow stronger if they are nurtured.

To join our team is to step up and commit to playing an active part in this important mahi. That means restoring nature, connecting people and places, reducing environmental impacts, and helping this rohe and its people prosper.

We are committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support mana whenua as Kaitiaki. We're also part of a collective movement alongside our community members whose hopes for the future of this region are just as high as your own.

Our efforts across environmental management, public transport, flood protection, regional parks and water supply are interconnected and integral to treasuring our rohe and growing our future.

How to apply:

Greater Wellington is proud to be a member of Diversity Works. We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive, flexible, and supportive workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and welcome the unique talent and experience you will bring to our team.

We are passionate about ensuring our recruitment processes are fair and equitable. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or adjustments that need to be made so we can offer a recruitment process that is more accessible to you.

Click on the Apply link to view the job description and to apply for the role with a cover letter and CV. All applicants will be required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in New Zealand.

For further information, please contact Hamish Fenwick at [e-mail]

Applications close: 5.00pm, Monday, 2 June 2025. However, we will be shortlisting applications as they come in and will interview as soon as possible to secure the right person.

The remuneration for this position, inclusive of all benefits, is $107,000 to $160,501 with a midpoint of $133,750. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

Agency applications won't be considered at this time.