Environmental Advisor

Amuri Irrigation Company; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Amuri Irrigation Company is seeking an Environmental Advisor to work with our Environmental Manager and shareholder farms. You’ll handle environmental data, engage farmers, coordinate catchment groups, and keep budgets and plans accurate for audits.

The role is permanent, 30–40 hours per week with flexible hours to suit, focused on practical on-farm progress and compliance with scheme rules.

Qualifications

• Two years’ experience in an agriculturally focussed role.
• Ability to interpret nutrient budgets and farm data.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with farmers.

Responsibilities

• Support shareholder farms with environmental aspects of their businesses.
• Coordinate and facilitate catchment group activities and action plans.
• Develop extension and learning opportunities for farmers.
• Maintain Overseer budgets, Farm Environment Plans, and farm records for audit readiness.
• Embed best management practices on-farm to drive practical progress.

Skills

Nutrient management

Relationship building

Oral communication

Data interpretation

Spreadsheet skills

Driver's license

Education

Tertiary qualification in agricultural science or environmental management

Tools

Overseer

Job description

• Be a part of our small team working with our rural community to plan for a sustainable future.
• Hands-on role at the heart of environmental progress in the Amuri Basin
• Work directly with farmers, catchment groups and farm data to drive best practice on-farm
• Permanent role with flexible hours (30-40 per week) and genuine work/life balance

About this Opportunity

We're looking for an Environmental Advisor to work alongside our Environmental Manager, supporting our shareholder farms with the environmental side of their businesses. It's a mix of people and data. You'll engage with farmers, coordinate and facilitate catchment group activities and action plans, develop extension and learning opportunities, and keep our Overseer nutrient budgets, Farm Environment Plans and farm records accurate, current and audit-ready.

This is a permanent role of 30-40 hours per week, with flexibility to agree hours with the successful candidate.

The goal is practical progress on-farm. You'll help farmers understand their numbers, meet their obligations under scheme rules and consent conditions, and embed best management practice.

If you enjoy variety, real impact, and working closely with farmers, this role offers all of that and more.

You'll Have

• Proficiency with nutrient management software (Overseer or equivalent), including building and interpreting nutrient budgets.
• A good understanding of pastoral farm systems (dairy, dairy support, sheep and beef) and what drives nutrient loss.
• At least two years' experience in an agriculturally focussed role, and a proven understanding of how practice change is embedded on-farm.
• Excellent relationship building and oral communication skills.
• A tertiary qualification in agricultural science, environmental management or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong data and spreadsheet skills, and the ability to interpret results and draw practical conclusions.
• Sound judgement and discretion with sensitive farm information.
• A full, clean driver's licence and the ability to work in New Zealand.

About AIC

Amuri Irrigation Company (AIC) delivers water to 129 farmers in the Amuri Basin, North Canterbury from two rivers via a modern network. Our vision is for thriving agribusinesses in a healthy environment. We champion sustainable water use and support our farmers to adopt efficient, future-focused farming systems.

Learn more at www.amuriirrigation.nz and www.aicprojects.nz.