Principal Consents Planner

Watercare Services Limited; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & development

Life and income protection

Parental leave

Employee discounts

Job summary

Watercare Services Limited is seeking a Principal Resource Consents Planner to shape and deliver consenting outcomes across major infrastructure programmes. You will lead programme-level strategies, provide statutory planning guidance, and oversee end-to-end consent processes, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes.

You will drive strategic insight into current and emerging legislation, mentor staff, and help Watercare remain future-ready while

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification and extensive experience in resource management and consent planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of programme-level consenting strategies that support critical infrastructure delivery.
• Provide expert statutory planning advice in a changing legislative framework
• Drive and oversee the end-to-end consenting process, ensuring successful delivery of major resource consents and approvals
• Lead multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and technical specialists to achieve high-quality outcomes
• Build strong relationships with mana whenua, regulators, community groups, and key stakeholders
• Mentor and coach team members, contributing to capability uplift across the consenting function
• Provide strategic insight into current and emerging legislation, ensuring Watercare remains future-ready

Skills

Resource management

Consent planning

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in resource management or related field

Job description

He kōrero mō mātou | About Watercare Ki te ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata

When the water is healthy, the land and the people are healthy Now is an exciting time to join Watercare, we're planning to spend $14 billion over the next 10 years to ensure we can continue to support our growing city in a climate-resilient way. When you average that out, that's an investment of $3.8 million every day!

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role

Reporting to the Head of Strategy and Consenting, this is a pivotal role where you will shape and deliver consenting outcomes across large, complex programmes of work. As a Principal Resource Consents Planner, you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of programme-level consenting strategies that support critical infrastructure delivery


• Provide expert statutory planning advice in a changing legislative framework


• Drive and oversee the end-to-end consenting process, ensuring successful delivery of major resource consents and approvals


• Lead multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and technical specialists to achieve high-quality outcomes


• Build strong relationships with mana whenua, regulators, community groups, and key stakeholders


• Mentor and coach team members, contributing to capability uplift across the consenting function


• Provide strategic insight into current and emerging legislation, ensuring Watercare remains future-ready

This is a unique opportunity to work at scale—helping delivery essential infrastructure that will shape Auckland for generations.

Ngā pūkenga e rapu nei mātou | About you

You are a highly experienced and strategic resource management professional who thrives on complexity and collaboration. You will bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and extensive experience in resource management and consent planning


• A strong track record of leading large, complex consenting programmes and securing statutory approvals


• Deep expertise in Resource Management Act (RMA) processes and related legislation


• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence at senior levels


• Experience working with iwi/mana whenua, councils, and community stakeholders


• Exceptional communication skills, with confidence presenting to leadership and external forums


• Strategic thinking, sound judgement, and a proactive, solutions-focused mindset


• Experience in the water or infrastructure sector is advantageous but not essential.

Ngā hua mō u | What's in it for you

We offer a competitive salary and staff benefits package including:

• Training and development opportunities


• Life and income protection insurance plans


• Generous parental leave


• Employee discounts at a range of large retailers