Principal Advisor Organisational Performance Management

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Canterbury is seeking a Principal Advisor – Organisational Performance Management to support the Performance Regulation & Protection core service. You will connect planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting to strategic outcomes, working with senior leaders to keep priorities clear and progress visible.

You will coach staff and drive a mature approach to performance management, enabling cross-functional collaboration across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years in performance or programme management across large organisations.
• Experience delivering strategic outcomes in regulated or public-sector contexts.
• Ability to operate in politically aware environments with agility and collaboration.
• Proven ability to produce executive and governance-level plans, reports and presentations.
• Understanding of current and future business drivers and statutory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior leaders to plan and deliver integrated core service work programmes.
• Monitor and report on core service delivery, performance measures and progress for executives and Councillors.
• Support statutory and audit requirements with accurate performance information.
• Identify risks, issues and recommended actions affecting delivery and outcomes.
• Champion a consistent, mature approach to performance management across the organisation.
• Coach staff to build business acumen and performance-management capability.

Skills

Performance management

Programme management

Strategic planning

Executive reporting

Governance planning

Job description

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.

Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our three core services:

• Environmental Regulation and Protection
• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
• Public Transport

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

As our Principal Advisor – Organisational Performance Management, you'll play a key role in supporting the performance of our Environmental Regulation and Protection core service. You'll provide high-quality advice that connects core service planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting. You'll help ensure priorities are clear, staff across the core service work collaboratively, and progress towards long-term outcomes is visible.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Work collaboratively with senior leaders to support integrated core service work programme planning and delivery.
• Monitor and report on core service delivery, performance measures and progress towards long-term outcomes for Executive Leadership, Councillors and the community.
• Support statutory and audit requirements by providing accurate core service performance information.
• Identify and raise risks, issues and recommended actions affecting core service delivery, performance measures and long-term outcomes.
• Champion a consistent and mature approach to performance management across the organisation.
• Coach and support staff to build business acumen and performance management capability.

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

About You

You are an experienced advisor with a strong background in organisational performance and programme management in complex, politically aware environments. You bring strategic insight, sound judgement, and the ability to connect core service planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting to the bigger picture.

Confident working independently with senior leaders, you build trusted relationships, influence outcomes, and provide pragmatic, best-practice advice. You are also a capable coach who enjoys lifting organisational capability and brings strong business acumen, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Mātau ā-Wheako Experience

• At least eight years relevant experience in performance or programme management, business and/or financial analysis across large, multi-work-programme organisations.
• Proven experience working at an organisational level to deliver strategic outcomes within complex, regulated or public-sector environments.
• Experience working in environments where agility, judgement and collaboration are essential.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality executive and governance-level plans, reports and presentations.
• A good understanding and appreciation of current and future business drivers and statutory requirements.

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 value everyone's contribution, diverse thinking, and skills.

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, 20 September 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