Land Management Advisor - Wairoa

Hawke's Bay Regional Council; Napier; On-site; NZD 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

5 weeks annual leave after 3 years

Life insurance and income protection

Subsidised eye tests and lenses

Well-being initiatives

Job summary

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in the Hawke’s Bay region is seeking a Land Management Advisor to support soil conservation and sustainable land use. This permanent, full-time role is based in Wairoa and focuses on engaging landowners, catchment groups and communities to deliver soil management programmes and on-farm planting projects.

You will provide practical advice, build trusted relationships, and work with stakeholders to improve environmental outcomes and resilience of Hawke’s Bay landscapes.

Qualifications

• Qualification in Geography, Agriculture, Environmental Management, Science, or related field is required.
• Solid knowledge of soil properties, erosion processes, and soil management is expected.
• Understanding farming systems and rural issues is essential.

Responsibilities

• Engage with landowners, catchment groups and communities to support soil conservation and responsible land management.
• Identify erosion-prone areas and promote best-practice land management techniques.
• Support delivery of catchment management programmes and on-farm planting projects.
• Build trusted relationships to improve environmental outcomes across Hawke’s Bay.

Skills

Relationship building

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in Geography, Agriculture, Environmental Management, Science, Agricultural Science, or related field

Job description

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

We are looking for a Land Management Advisor to join our Land Management Team. This is permanent, full time opportunity based in Wairoa.

The Land Management team leads Council’s catchment management and on-farm land management programmes, working closely with landowners, catchment groups, and communities to support sustainable land use and environmental outcomes. Through education, advice, and partnership-based approaches, the team helps deliver biodiversity, biosecurity, and land management initiatives that build resilient landscapes across Hawke’s Bay.

The Land Management Advisor is responsible for engaging with landowners, catchment groups, and community stakeholders to support the implementation of effective soil conservation and land management practices across the region. Reporting to the Team Leader – Land Management, you will identify and address erosion-prone areas, promote the adoption of best-practice land management techniques, and support initiatives such as pole sales programmes and on-farm planting projects.

A key focus of this role is building strong relationships with landowners, rural communities, and catchment groups to support sustainable land management outcomes. You will provide practical advice, support the delivery of catchment management programmes, and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to improve environmental outcomes and build resilient landscapes across the region.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

You will be a relationship-focused professional with experience in sustainable land management or in the provision of primary sector-related technical advice. Combining technical expertise with a practical approach, you will be confident building trusted relationships, providing sound advice, and working collaboratively with landowners, catchment groups, and rural communities.

You will also have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Geography, Agriculture, Environmental Management, Science, Agricultural Science, or a related field.
• Sound knowledge of soil properties and management, including the processes, mitigation and treatment of soil erosion.
• An understanding of different farming systems and rural issues.
• A valid driver's licence.

The salary range for this role is between $75,650 to $89,000 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Other benefits of working for our team include:

• Flexible working options to support work/life balance
• 5 weeks annual leave after 3 years
• Life insurance and income protection
• Subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives
• Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

See a full list of our staff benefits here

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

Applications close Thursday, 15 October 2026, however we will be shortlisting and interviewing appropriate candidates as applications are received. If you are interested in this position, please do not wait to apply as we may close the ad earlier than advertised.

Applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand.

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use.