General Manager Partnering & Advisory

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Canterbury is seeking a strategic leader for the role of General Manager – Partnering & Advisory. This pivotal position will oversee organizational performance and wellbeing, driving people-centric solutions and building strong relationships and systems grounded in cultural competence and care. The role is aimed at enhancing the leadership capabilities of the team while ensuring compliance and strategic alignment with organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead collective bargaining and build strong partnerships with unions.
• Experience in human resources, people partnering or employment relations.
• Strong acumen to influence and advise at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Drive high-quality people advice and support across the organisation.
• Shape and lead collective bargaining while building constructive relationships.
• Ensure people leadership systems are culturally grounded and practically useful.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Cultural competence

Negotiation

Problem Solving

Education

Extensive HR experience

Public sector experience (advantage)

Job description

Job Category: Environmental Services,HR & Recruitment

• Shape high-impact, people-centred solutions
• Pivotal leadership role
• Work in a values-led, Treaty-grounded organisation

As a regional council, we’re responsible for managing natural resources like air, water, and land across the Waitaha Canterbury region. We work in genuine partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment for current and future generations.

Our region is changing, and so are we. Whether it’s environmental shifts, regulatory reforms, or the evolving needs of our people and communities, we’re committed to adapting and responding with integrity, collaboration, and purpose.

Our mahi (work) centres on delivering three core services:
• Environmental Regulation and Protection
• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
• Public Transport

We’re looking for a strategic and people-focused leader to step into the newly created role ofGeneral Manager – Partnering & Advisory.

This is a pivotal leadership role in our refreshed People, Safety and Wellbeing function, responsible for driving high-quality people advice and support across the organisation. You’ll lead a capable and respected team of Business Partners, Advisors, and our in-house Employment Relations Specialist, ensuring our approach is values-aligned, future-focused and consistently excellent.

Reporting to our CPO, you’ll be a trusted advisor to senior leaders—supporting organisational performance and wellbeing through proactive partnership, strong cultural competence, and sound employment practice. You’ll help shape and lead collective bargaining and build constructive, solutions-focused relationships with our union partners. You’ll ensure our people leadership systems are legally robust, culturally grounded and practically useful—and you’ll play a key role in shaping change, navigating complexity, and building capability.

This role is all about bringing together the technical, the relational, and the strategic—helping ensure our mahi is not only compliant, but deeply people-centred.

You’re a seasoned HR professional with deep experience in business partnering and employment relations. You’ve worked in complex organisations and know how to combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, and you bring calm, clarity and curiosity to the table.

You understand that people leadership is as much about values and relationships as it is about process. You bring pragmatism and integrity to everything you do—and you support others to do the same. You’re committed to growing inclusive leadership, confident employment practices, and organisational systems that are grounded in care and trust.

To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally bring:

• Extensive senior experience in human resources, people partnering and/or employment relations
• Strong leadership experience, with the ability to coach, grow and support high-performing teams
• Proven ability to lead collective bargaining and build strong, respectful partnerships with unions
• Confidence navigating ER issues in a way that is lawful, values-led and future-focused
• Deep experience building and embedding partnering models that lift capability and support leaders through change
• Cultural competence and experience applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi in an organisational context
• Strong political and commercial acumen, with the ability to influence and advise at senior levels
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across a wide range of stakeholders
• Public sector experience would be an advantage

As part of the People, Safety and Wellbeing leadership team, you’ll be part of a values-led, Treaty-grounded environment where people matter, growth is supported, and diversity is celebrated. We’re committed to becoming a Treaty partner of excellence and actively support the development of cultural capability—at both individual and organisational levels.

For a confidential chat about this role, please contactRoz Grant on 027 301 4802.

Applications closeSunday, 20 July.We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may progress to interviews before the closing date.

Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks, and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required where relevant to the role.

We’re committed to a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but don’t quite meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.