Engagement Advisor - Compliance

Waikato Regional Council; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional environmental organization in Hamilton is seeking a Communication and Engagement Specialist. The role involves developing strategies for engaging with the community on environmental compliance issues. The ideal candidate has significant experience in behavior change and communication, with excellent relationship-building skills. This is a full-time role with a focus on making a positive impact on the environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of engagement or influencing behaviour change experience.
• Experience in leading work packages from development to execution.
• Ability to deliver in a political environment that could be high pressure.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement engagement and communication strategies for environmental issues.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with special interest groups.
• Liaise with communications team to provide content for corporate purposes.

Skills

Proven ability to engage and build relationships

Excellent communication skills

Influencer

Social awareness

Proven success at building relationships

Education

Relevant bachelor's level qualification in communications

Job description

We’re after someone to join our team who can help us engage and educate our community and stakeholders and develop communication strategies that help us to protect our environment.

Environmental compliance is all about encouraging positive behaviour change. We use regulatory tools to encourage people to comply with environmental regulations. That’s got to be good for the environment, right? This may mean stopping pollution, protecting waterways, having cleaner air to breath or protecting our coastline.

Do you have proven ability to engage and build relationships? Are you a communication whizz and you care for the environment?

We want an innovative and dynamic person who can own this newly created role. You will develop and help implement a communication and engagement strategy across our compliance, monitoring, and enforcement functions. The work you do will be extending the reach of our operational work through engagement and raising awareness.

We have an excellent track record in environmental compliance, but your role will be to learn our story and then develop ways of sharing it with others. This will mean working closely with our operational teams to understand both short and long-term environmental compliance issues.

The work will be varied and interesting and you’ll be equally comfortable building relationships within Council, in the rural and primary sector fields or at an industry partner’s conference. If you want to make a difference and you’re a great team player, come and join our supportive, passionate team.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

• Develop and implement engagement and communication strategies for both long standing and emerging environmental issues.
• Enhance the effectiveness of existing operational compliance, monitoring and enforcement work through effective communication with the regulated and wider community.
• Manage stakeholder relationships s and special interest groups to enhance and maintain understanding of environmental compliance issues.
• Liaise with the regional council communications team in regards providing content for corporate purposes as required, and ensuring corporate standards are being met with regards to the likes of signage, branding and livery.
• Assist in the facilitation of regional and national compliance forums, workshops and conferences as required.
• Develop and maintain cross organisation relationships to strengthen compliance engagement.

Mō ngā pūkenga | Qualifications and experience

• Relevant bachelors level qualification in communications.
• Minimum 5 years of engagement or influencing behaviour change experience.
• Experience in leading work packages, from development, to planning and execution.
• Influencer, ability to motivate and influence behaviour change
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
• Social awareness and skill in dealing with sensitive and confidential issues (including bi-cultural sensitivity)
• Proven success at building relationships and resolving issues with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience in producing publications and collateral
• Ability to deliver in a political environment that could be high pressure and rapidly changing
• Full NZ driver’s licence

Mō mātou | About us

• We work hard to care for the mighty Waikato, so current and future generations will benefit from a healthy environment, strong economy, and vibrant communities.
• Our mahi is as diverse as the region we care for and the people who share it. Our work helps look after our region's water, soil, air, geothermal areas and coasts - so we can all enjoy these precious resources for generations to come.
• Customers sit at the heart of everything we do, and all staff have an important role to play in the delivery of exceptional customer service.
• If you’d like to understand more about what we do please click here The work we do | Waikato Regional Council.
• By partnering with iwi and working with many others in our communities, our collective kaitiakitanga will make the Waikato region even better. Together, we’ll create a sustainable future that will make a positive difference to people’s lives.
• To get an idea of what we do, have a look here: The CME Guidebook | He Pukatohu | Waikato Regional Council

Mō te tuku tono | How to apply

• Applications will be reviewed as they come in, and this role will close on Sunday 28 September 2025
• For a copy of the role description, please click here.
• If you have any questions about the role, please contact [e-mail]
• Please click ‘apply’ and include your CV & cover letter as a pdf.
• If you are looking for a challenge and have a passion for the environment this may be the opportunity you are looking for. Apply today!