Principal Compliance Officer

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 111,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive working environment

Flexible working options

Competitive salary package

5 weeks annual leave

Other great benefits

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi in Palmerston North is seeking a Principal Compliance Officer to lead regulatory initiatives and drive a culture of continuous improvement. You will be the regulatory subject matter expert, guiding investigations, audits and evidence-based decision making.

The role emphasizes mentoring, stakeholder engagement, and strong analytical capabilities to ensure safety and compliance across the transport sector. Salary is competitive and aligned with experience.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day delivery of the work programme to meet KPI targets.
• Coach and mentor the team in risk identification, audits, investigations and regulatory decision making.
• Proactively engage with commercial operators, drivers, stakeholders and service providers on compliance matters.
• Use effective regulatory tools to ensure transport service licence holders achieve high safety and compliance.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Investigations

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Analytical thinking

Te Ao Māori knowledge

Te Tiriti o Waitangi awareness

Education

Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in a regulatory compliance role

Job description

• Play a pivotal role in supporting team success
• Mentor and empower colleagues to succeed
• Palmerston North based

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We have an opportunity for a Principal Compliance Officer to join our team. This is a role where you will play a pivotal part in growing our culture of continuous improvement and be our regulatory subject matter expert.

Responsibilities

In this role you’ll provide support to the Regional Manager Compliance, team members and the wider Safer Commercial Transport team in to drive effectiveness through the delivery of quality work and evidence-based decision making. Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing day to day delivery of the work programme to ensure that key performance targets are met
• Coaching and mentoring and leading team members in the areas of risk identification and assessment, audits and investigations, good regulatory decision making and application of interventions, critical thinking and continuous improvement
• Proactively engaging with commercial operators and drivers, stakeholders and service providers on matters of compliance and non-compliance
• Employing effective regulatory tools to ensure transport service licence holders are achieving the highest level of safety and compliance

You will find out more about the role here

We are seeking to appoint at a salary between $111,051 to $123,390 per annum commensurate to skills and experience.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

About

If you are outcomes focused with a can-do attitude and able to demonstrate a high level of knowledge about the transport industry and how NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) regulates then we would love to hear from you. To be successful in this role you will have:

• Extensive experience in a regulatory or compliance environment and be able to navigate complex frameworks to ensure standards are met
• Proven ability to lead complex investigations or audits
• Experience in reporting on workflow and outcomes, and able to clearly communicate workflow progress and outcomes
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills along with systems thinking
• Experience in mentoring and coaching others
• Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and build credibility
• You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public service.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in a regulatory compliance role

Ko wai mātou | About us

The Safer Commercial Transport team is responsible for regulating commercial transport operators: from heavy vehicles to small passenger services. We do this by monitoring our sector through audits, reviews and investigations and working with industry to drive best practice. The team regulates transport operators that have been licensed to operate as a transport service.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

• A supportive working environment
• Flexible working options
• A competitive salary package, aligned with your skills and experience
• 5 weeks annual leave and other great benefits.

Ready to take the next step in your career? We’d love to hear from you.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

29 September 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.