Environmental Advisor - Mid-North Island

KiwiRail; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4% KiwiSaver employer contribution

5 weeks annual leave

Staff travel discounts

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

KiwiRail is seeking an Environmental Advisor for the Mid-North Island, based in the Hamilton region. You will support safer, more sustainable rail operations across Hamilton, Bay of Plenty and the Central Plateau, providing practical environmental advice across projects and sites.

You’ll identify risks, review management plans, partake in audits, and assist with incident investigations. Travel to KiwiRail sites and collaboration with councils, mana whenua and iwi will be required.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years' experience in environmental management, compliance or risk.
• Sound knowledge of NZ environmental legislation and local authority requirements.
• Experience auditing environmental aspects and reviewing management plans.

Responsibilities

• Provide mid-level environmental advice across KiwiRail operations, sites and projects.
• Identify environmental risks and propose practical controls.
• Review environmental management plans and conduct audits/site verifications; support incident response.

Skills

Environmental management

Risk assessment

Auditing

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering/Resource Management

Job description

Environmental Advisor - Mid-North Island

Environmental Advisor - Mid-North Island

• Use your environmental expertise to support safer, more sustainable rail operations across the Mid-North Island.
• Permanent full-time role
• Based in the Hamilton region, supporting Hamilton, Bay of Plenty and the Central Plateau

Position Description

At KiwiRail, we connect people, goods, and communities—safely and sustainably. Our legacy of over 150 years is built on keeping Aotearoa moving while caring for the land and its people. We're proud to be part of a team that values collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement. Our environmental work supports the safe delivery of key rail operations and infrastructure projects that benefit future generations.

As Environmental Advisor for the Mid-North Island, you'll provide practical, mid-level environmental advice across KiwiRail operations, sites and projects in the Hamilton, Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau areas. Working with operational leaders and project teams, you'll identify and assess environmental risks, recommend practical controls, review environmental management plans, undertake audits and site verifications, and support incident response and investigations. You'll also contribute technical input to resource consenting and monitoring, help deliver training and toolbox talks, and build constructive relationships with councils, contractors, mana whenua and iwi representatives. Your work will support consistent implementation and continual improvement of KiwiRail's Environmental Management System.

We're looking for someone with:

• At least five years' experience in environmental management, compliance, risk management or related work, ideally in transport, construction, infrastructure or operational environments
• Sound knowledge of New Zealand environmental legislation, local authority requirements and best-practice environmental management
• Experience undertaking environmental audits and writing or reviewing environmental management plans for complex sites or projects
• Experience responding to environmental incidents, contributing to investigations and recommending practical corrective actions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to build relationships and influence technical, operational and external stakeholders
• A relevant tertiary qualification in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Resource Management or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience

You'll also need:

• A current and valid New Zealand Driver's Licence
• The ability and flexibility to travel to KiwiRail sites and undertake site-based work as required
• To meet KiwiRail's pre-employment and ongoing health, safety, drug and alcohol screening requirements

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

• Competitive salary plus 4% employer KiwiSaver contribution
• Ongoing professional development, with opportunities to broaden your environmental advisory, assurance and stakeholder engagement experience
• 5 weeks annual leave
• Discounted staff travel
• A wide range of employee discounts with retail partners
• Ongoing professional development, with opportunities to broaden your environmental advisory, assurance and stakeholder engagement experience
• Access to the NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust, including holiday homes and support for optometry, physiotherapy, GP visits and prescriptions
• Varied, site-based work across rail operations and projects, with the opportunity to make a visible environmental impact

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to make a difference?

Please note: Appointment is subject to passing a pre-employment medical and drug and alcohol screening. NZ residency or citizenship is required.