General Manager Regional Planning

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Canterbury is seeking a strategic leader to head its regional planning function, reporting to the Director Strategy and Planning. You will guide the development of regional policies, plans, strategies and bylaws, ensuring a robust, evidence-based planning framework across Canterbury.

This senior role focuses on cross-agency collaboration with mana whenua, central government, and local authorities, while building a high-performing team and navigating a changing legislative context.

Qualifications

• Experience in resource management policy and plan development.
• Understanding of local government context, regional level preferred.
• Leadership of people and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge of resource management and local government legislation.
• Ability to influence and build stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead Environment Canterbury's regional planning function and strategy.
• Provide expert policy advice to senior leaders, councillors, and stakeholders.
• Play a key role in the implementation of the new Resource Management System.
• Build strong partnerships with mana whenua, central government, and local authorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of planning professionals.

Skills

Resource management policy

Regional government context knowledge

Leadership experience

Resource management legislation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in resource planning or resource management, or related

Postgraduate degree

Job description

Job Type: Permanent | Full Time

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Job Category: Government, Defence & Emergency

• Lead regional planning that shapes the future of New Zealand’s largest region
• Influence and shape environmental outcomes across Canterbury
• Senior leadership role with significant impact

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | About Environment Canterbury

As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our region.

The region’s evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as we respond to regulatory and environmental changes.

Council plays an important role in responding to national legislation and policy changes – this mahi is part of our operating environment and is embedded in our everyday mahi. The current proposals from central government are significant, and Council is working through the opportunities and implications. However, our mahi must continue to deliver our three core services for our partners, communities and te taiao (environment).

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

In this time of significant reform, this is a rare opportunity to lead regional planning for one of New Zealand's largest and most diverse regions. Reporting to the Director Strategy and Planning, you’ll provide strategic leadership across Environment Canterbury's planning function, ensuring our resource management framework is evidence-based, legally robust, and responsive to the changing needs of our communities. You’ll play a key role across the region, shaping the future of Canterbury by leading the development of regional policies, plans, strategies, and bylaws, while navigating the impacts of a new legislative context.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading Environment Canterbury's regional planning function and strategy
• Providing expert policy advice to senior leaders, councillors, and stakeholders
• Key player in the implantation of the new Resource Management System
• Building strong partnerships with mana whenua, central government, and local authorities
• Leading and developing a high-performing team of planning professionals

For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.

Mōu | About You

You are a strategic and influential leader with a strong track record in resource management planning and policy development. You bring a collaborative leadership style, exceptional relationship management skills, and the ability to navigate complex political, regulatory, and stakeholder environments. Passionate about environmental outcomes, you can balance long-term strategic thinking with practical delivery while inspiring teams to achieve outstanding results.

To Be Successful In This Role, You Will Bring

• Extensive experience in resource management policy and plan development
• An understanding of the local government context, preferably at the regional level
• Significant leadership experience managing people and multidisciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of resource management and local government legislation
• Proven ability to influence, engage and build trusted stakeholder relationships.

Mātau Ā-Wheako | Experience

You’ll have a bachelor’s degree in resource planning or resource management, or physical or biological science, plus a postgraduate degree along with at least 10 years' experience in resource management, ideally in policy analysis and plan development under the Resource Management Act or similar.

• Experience leading complex programmes of work in a regulatory or public sector environment
• At least 2 years' experience in a senior management role leading people and multidisciplinary teams
• Experience working with elected members, iwi, government agencies, and key stakeholders.

Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Working at Environment Canterbury

Our Mahi Is Underpinned By Our Values

• Kaitiakitanga (stewardship)
• Pononga (integrity)
• Manaakitanga (people first)
• Whanaungatanga (collaboration)
• Māiatanga (can do)

We understand and embrace a diverse workforce; this diversity will enable us to better serve our people, our community, and our greatest taonga, the environment.

We're on a journey to become a treaty partner of excellence, including incorporating te ao Māori into our work. We offer supportive opportunities to develop capability in this area and encourage our people to use kaupapa Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te reo Māori in our daily work. We welcome you with an open heart & mind, wherever you are on your personal te ao Māori journey.

Ko ētahi atu kōrero | Additional Information

Applications close on Sunday 4 October and will be reviewed as they are received, so early applications are encouraged. Interviews may begin before the closing date, and we reserve the right to close the advertisement early.

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

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.

Me mahi tahi tātou - Together we can

Job Description

Job Description