Environmental Technician | 12 month fixed term

Nelson City Council; Nelson; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave

Professional development

Employee benefits and discounts

Opportunities to contribute to useful,

Job summary

Nelson City Council is seeking a practical Environmental Technician for a 12-month fixed-term role that blends fieldwork, environmental monitoring and data reporting across air quality, water quality, coastal and marine monitoring, and hydrology.

You will combine hands-on fieldwork with equipment maintenance, data management and environmental reporting, with some after-hours flexibility for site work. This is a 12-month parental leave cover that involves both office and field-based tasks.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree in natural or physical sciences or Level 5 field hydrology diploma
• Current full New Zealand driver licence
• Experience collecting and processing environmental data
• Knowledge of QA and data-handling systems, plus spreadsheet/database management
• Willingness to undertake regular on-call fieldwork in all weather conditions

Responsibilities

• Undertake field data collection for Council’s environmental monitoring programmes
• Install, calibrate and maintain monitoring equipment, site infrastructure and telemetry systems
• Process, quality-code and archive environmental monitoring data
• Maintain air quality monitoring sites and communicate exceedances as required
• Support freshwater monitoring, fish surveys and habitat assessments
• Respond to environmental data requests and contribute to reporting and public communications
• Identify and report unusual results, flooding and other matters requiring action

Skills

Field data collection

Data management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Education

Natural/Physical sciences degree

Diploma in field hydrology (Level 5)

Tools

Telemetry systems

Monitoring equipment

Spreadsheet software

Database management

Job description

Help shape Nelson’s future. Make a difference. We’re looking for a practical and capable Environmental Technician who enjoys fieldwork, environmental monitoring and working with data for a 12-month fixed term role.

About the role | Kō tēnei tūranga mahi

This is a great opportunity to help collect, process and preserve environmental data for Nelson’s state of the environment programme. Working across air quality, water quality, coastal and marine monitoring, and hydrology, you’ll combine hands‑on fieldwork with equipment maintenance, data management and environmental reporting. This is a 12-month fixed term role covering parental leave. The role is both office and field based with the need for some flexibility to work outside of normal office hours when required.

You will:

• Undertake field data collection for Council’s environmental monitoring programmes
• Install, calibrate and maintain monitoring equipment, site infrastructure and telemetry systems
• Process, quality-code and archive environmental monitoring data
• Maintain air quality monitoring sites and communicate exceedances as required
• Support freshwater monitoring, fish surveys and habitat assessments
• Respond to environmental data requests and contribute to reporting and public communications
• Identify and report unusual results, flooding and other matters requiring action

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

You’ll be a practical, organised and safety-conscious person who can work confidently both independently and as part of a team. You’ll bring flexibility, sound judgement, strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to manage competing priorities while producing accurate, high-quality work.

You’ll also have:

• A relevant degree in natural or physical sciences, a Level 5 diploma in field hydrology, or demonstrated relevant environmental technical experience
• A current full New Zealand driver licence
• Relevant training or experience to undertake fieldwork
• Experience collecting and processing environmental data and managing monitoring equipment
• Knowledge of quality assurance and data-handling systems as well as spreadsheet and database management
• Practical construction and electrical knowledge or experience
• Strong communication, relationship-management and organisational skills
• The ability and willingness to undertake regular and occasional on‑call fieldwork in all weather conditions and varied environments
• The physical capability required for the role, including being a competent swimmer

What we offer | Ko ngā painga mōu

• Wellbeing leave, platforms and initiatives
• 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

At Nelson City Council, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and has a true sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from diverse ethnicities and cultures, LGBTQ+ communities, neurodivergent individuals, and people with disabilities. If you require any assistance with your application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Applications close | Rā whakakapi

Sunday 15 November 2026

For further enquiries | Ina he pātai anō, whakapā mai

Please reach out to Stefan Beaumont, Team Leader Science & Environment on [e-mail]