Emergency Management Advisor - Planning

Nelson City Council; Nelson; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave

Fully subsidised health insurance

Generous leave provisions

Learning and professional development

Employee benefits & discounts

Meaningful community projects

Access to national parks nearby

Job summary

Nelson City Council seeks an experienced Emergency Management Advisor – Planning to lead development and continuous improvement of regional emergency plans. You’ll build strong relationships with communities, agencies and volunteers to ensure readiness and coordinated response.

You will translate risk into clear, usable plans, provide strategic leadership, and oversee readiness activities across reduction, readiness, response and recovery. A NZ driver licence and EM qualification are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in emergency management and resilience planning.
• Strong understanding of the emergency management framework, including Emergency Management and NEMA requirements.
• Proven ability to develop, implement and sustain complex regional and local plans.
• Experience engaging with emergency management partners, agencies and communities at both a strategic and practical levels.
• Proven experience leading diverse teams, community groups or volunteers.
• Strong written communication skills, including the preparation of effective plans and reports for varied audiences.
• A confident approach to speaking publicly, chairing meetings and briefing senior stakeholders.
• A tertiary qualification in Emergency Management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• A full current New Zealand driver licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, coordination and maintenance of emergency management and resilience plans that align with national and regional requirements.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to agencies, communities and volunteers.
• Coordinate and oversee assigned portfolio services across reduction, readiness, response and recovery activity.
• Build strong relationships with communities, councils, emergency management partners and other agencies.
• Lead the readiness activity of the Emergency Operations Centre Planning function team.
• Provide planning expertise, advice and leadership to support operational readiness and effective decision-making.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of Community Emergency Preparedness Plans.
• Support the preparedness and effective functioning of Emergency Operations Centres.
• Undertake the role of Duty Officer on a prorated basis and participate in emergency responses and training exercises.
• Chair or facilitate meetings and provide clear reports and advice to committees and stakeholder groups.

Skills

Emergency planning

Risk assessment

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Written communication

Driver licence

Education

Tertiary qualification in Emergency Management or related discipline

Job description

Shaping our future | Kōmiria te anamata

Shaping Our Future was built with the ideas and experience of our own people. Staff input shaped our Operating Model, and that model now guides our new structure: organised around our customers, clearer about who does what, and investing in the capability we need for the future. Part of that vision is a workplace where people feel they belong and have room to grow. If you’re looking to develop your career, use your skills in a new way, or help shape how we serve Whakatū Nelson, we encourage you to apply.

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

We're looking for an experienced Emergency Management Advisor – Planning to lead the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of emergency management and resilience plans across the Nelson Tasman region. You'll ensure emergency and resilience plans are current, practical, usable, understood by those who rely on them, and aligned with regional and national requirements.

Working with communities, councils, emergency management partners and other agencies, you'll build strong relationships that strengthen preparedness, resilience and a coordinated response. You'll provide planning expertise, advice and leadership that supports operational readiness, continuous improvement and effective decision-making across the emergency management function.

You will:

• Lead the development, coordination and maintenance of emergency management and resilience plans that align with national and regional requirements
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to agencies, communities and volunteers
• Coordinate and oversee assigned portfolio services across reduction, readiness, response and recovery activity
• Build strong relationships with communities, councils, emergency management partners and other agencies
• Lead the readiness activity of the Emergency Operations Centre Planning function team
• Provide planning expertise, advice and leadership to support operational readiness and effective decision-making
• Assist in the development and maintenance of Community Emergency Preparedness Plans
• Support the preparedness and effective functioning of Emergency Operations Centres
• Undertake the role of Duty Officer on a prorated basis and participate in emergency responses and training exercises
• Chair or facilitate meetings and provide clear reports and advice to committees and stakeholder groups

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

You’ll be an experienced emergency management or resilience professional who combines strategic thinking with a practical, community-focused approach. You can translate risk and complexity into clear, usable plans and confidently bring diverse agencies, communities and volunteers together.

You will bring:

• Experience in emergency management and resilience planning
• A solid understanding of the emergency management framework, including Emergency Management and NEMA requirements
• Proven ability to develop, implement and sustain complex regional and local plans
• Experience engaging with emergency management partners, agencies and communities at both a strategic and practical levels
• Proven experience leading diverse teams, community groups or volunteers
• Strong written communication skills, including the preparation of effective plans and reports for varied audiences
• A confident approach to speaking publicly, chairing meetings and briefing senior stakeholders
• A tertiary qualification in Emergency Management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
• A full current New Zealand driver licence

What we offer | Ko ngā painga mōu

• Wellbeing leave, platforms and initiatives
• A fully subsidised health insurance scheme
• Generous leave provisions
• Learning and professional development opportunities
• Access to various employee benefits and discounts
• Opportunities to contribute to meaningful projects that shape our community's wellbeing and future
• Mountains, beaches and national parks at your doorstep

Applications close | Rā whakakapi

11pm on Monday 16 November 2026

For further enquiries | Ina he pātai anō, whakapā mai

Please reach out to Joe Kennedy, Manager Emergency Management on [e-mail]