Environmental Planning Manager

NZ Clean Energy Limited; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

NZ Clean Energy Limited seeks an Environmental Planning Manager to lead the resource consenting process for utility-scale renewable energy projects from early development through construction and operation.

You will navigate New Zealand's planning and consenting environment, coordinating multidisciplinary advisers, and engaging with councils, iwi, landowners and communities to deliver compliant project outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in resource management, planning and consenting.
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand's planning and consenting environment.
• Experience engaging with councils, iwi, landowners and communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead resource consenting strategy and delivery across the portfolio of projects.
• Manage projects through the resource consent process, from feasibility to approvals and consent conditions.
• Identify consenting risks and provide advice to the wider project team.
• Appoint, coordinate and manage external planning, environmental and technical consultants.
• Prepare and review resource consent applications, AEE, and supporting documentation.
• Lead engagement with regional and district councils and regulatory authorities.
• Coordinate engagement with iwi, mana whenua, landowners and communities.
• Monitor changes to planning frameworks and assess implications for projects.
• Manage consenting programmes, budgets, deliverables and reporting across multiple projects.
• Work with development, engineering and grid teams to align designs with requirements.

Skills

Resource management

Planning

Consenting

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in Planning, Resource Management, Environmental Science or related discipline

Job description

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Reporting to the senior leadership team, the Environmental Planning Manager will be responsible for leading and managing the resource consenting process for utility-scale renewable energy projects from early-stage development through to construction and operation. The role requires a strong understanding of New Zealand's planning and consenting environment, together with the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary technical advisors, manage consenting risk and programme, and engage effectively with councils, iwi, landowners, communities and other key stakeholders. Working closely with development, engineering, grid and construction teams, you will play a key role in progressing projects through consenting and ensuring consent requirements are effectively incorporated into project design and delivery.

Key responsibilities

Lead resource consenting strategy and delivery across the portfolio of projects

Manage projects through the resource consent process, from early feasibility and consenting strategy through application, approvals and satisfaction of consent conditions

Identify consenting risks and opportunities early in project development and provide clear advice to the wider project team

Appoint, coordinate and manage external planning, environmental and technical consultants, ensuring high-quality and timely delivery of consent documentation

Manage the preparation and review of resource consent applications, Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE), technical assessments and supporting documentation

Lead engagement with regional and district councils and other relevant consenting and regulatory authorities

Coordinate engagement with iwi, mana whenua, landowners, neighbours, communities and other project stakeholders in conjunction with the wider development team

Monitor changes to New Zealand's planning and consenting framework and assess their implications for existing and future projects

Manage consenting programmes, budgets, deliverables and reporting across multiple projects

Work closely with development, engineering and grid teams to ensure project designs respond appropriately to environmental, planning and consenting requirements

About you

Significant experience in resource management, planning and consenting, within renewable energy, electricity infrastructure or other major infrastructure projects

Strong working knowledge of the Resource Management Act, Fast-track Approvals framework and wider New Zealand planning and consenting environment

Demonstrated experience successfully managing complex resource consent applications and multidisciplinary technical workstreams

Experience working with regional and district councils and navigating planning and regulatory approval processes

Strong understanding of environmental and planning matters relevant to infrastructure development, including landscape and visual effects, ecology, noise, transport, earthworks, stormwater and cultural considerations

Experience engaging with iwi, mana whenua, landowners, communities and other stakeholders

Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, consultants, budgets and programmes concurrently

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex planning and consenting matters clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Relevant tertiary qualification in Planning, Resource Management, Environmental Science or a related discipline

Willingness to travel to project sites and stakeholder meetings across New Zealand as required

About us

We are a leading developer of utility-scale renewable energy projects, playing a critical role in New Zealand's transition to a resilient, low-carbon energy system. Our portfolio includes large-scale solar, wind and battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects.

Competitive remuneration and benefits with performance incentives

The opportunity to play a key role in delivering nationally significant renewable energy projects

Exposure to projects from early-stage development through consenting, construction and operation

Long-term career progression within a growing, well-capitalised organisation

Flexible working arrangements and a high-performing, collaborative culture