Principal/Senior Planner - Resource Consents | Kaiwhakamahere Matua - Tātūnga Taiao

Nelson City Council; Nelson; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave

Fully subsidised health insurance

Hybrid working arrangements

Generous leave provisions

Learning and development opportunities

Employee benefits and discounts

Meaningful projects benefiting the社区

Job summary

Nelson City Council is seeking experienced Principal or Senior Planners to guide sustainable growth in the Nelson region. You will lead in resource consents, provide expert planning advice, and mentor staff, with opportunities to influence cross-Council projects.

Based in Nelson, New Zealand, the role emphasizes leadership, process improvement, and stakeholder collaboration. You will be involved in hearings, expert witness work, and contributing to plans and strategies across the council.

Qualifications

• Experience processing a wide range of resource consent applications.
• Strong knowledge of the Resource Management Act and associated legislation.
• Experience with consent hearings and the Making Good Decisions framework.
• Proven ability to prepare and present expert witness evidence.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Process allocated resource consent applications across all levels of complexity.
• Provide technical leadership and act as a subject matter expert on resource consents.
• Mentor and support the professional development of Resource Consents staff.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including updating processes, procedures, and templates.
• Provide expert planning advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Resource consent processing

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership/mentoring

Oral/written communication

Project management

Education

University degree in planning/resource management/science

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Job description

Help shape Nelson’s future. Lead with expertise. Make a difference.

We’re looking for experienced Principal and Senior Planners to join our Resource Consents team and play a key role in guiding sustainable growth across the Nelson region.

About the Company | E pā ana ki te Kaunihera o Whakatū

Our vision for Whakatū Nelson is a creative, prosperous and innovative city. Our community is inclusive, resilient, and connected – we care for each other and our environment.

About the Role | Kō tēnei tūranga mahi

This is an exciting opportunity for experienced planning professionals to make a meaningful contribution to Nelson's sustainable growth while influencing continuous improvement, shaping planning practice, and providing leadership within the resource consents space. We are looking for experienced planners ready to take the next step in their career. Depending on your experience, you may be considered for either a Senior Planner or Principal Planner position. These positions are based in Nelson, New Zealand.

As a Principal Planner, you will:

• Process allocated resource consent applications across all levels of complexity
• Provide technical leadership and act as a subject matter expert on resource consents
• Mentor and support the professional development of Resource Consents staff
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including updating processes, procedures, and templates
• Provide expert planning advice to internal and external stakeholders
• Prepare and present expert witness evidence for hearings and the Environment Court
• Contribute to projects, policies, plans, and strategies requiring cross-Council collaboration
• Support the Team Leader and act in the Team Leader role when required

As a Senior Planner, you’ll process a wide range of resource consents, provide mentoring and technical leadership to planners, and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality, timely outcomes for our customers.

As a Senior Planner, you will:

• Provide sound pre-application advice to developers on the design and planning of new projects in the region
• Process resource consents and other planning approvals of varying complexity in accordance with the Resource Management Act and associated legislation
• Provide mentoring, coaching and professional development support to planners
• Act as an expert witness at hearings and the Environment Court
• Support continuous improvement of systems, processes and customer outcomes

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

You'll be a principal or senior level planner with strong technical expertise, sound judgement, and a passion for developing others. You are recognised for your ability to navigate complex planning matters, build trusted relationships, and deliver high-quality outcomes for our customers and community.

• Experience processing a wide range of resource consent applications
• Strong working knowledge of the Resource Management Act and associated legislation
• Experience with consent hearings and the Making Good Decisions framework
• Proven ability to prepare and present expert witness evidence
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong organisational, prioritisation, and time management skills
• A collaborative approach and commitment to continuous improvement
• Demonstrated leadership and / or mentoring and coaching capability is preferred
• A relevant university degree in planning, resource management, science, or a related discipline
• Professional membership (or eligibility for membership) of a relevant professional body is desirable

What we offer | Ko ngā painga mōu

• Wellbeing leave, platforms and initiatives
• A fully subsidised health insurance scheme
• A flexible workplace including hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance
• Generous leave provisions
• Learning and professional development opportunities
• Access to various employee benefits and discounts
• Opportunities to contribute to meaningful projects that shape our community's wellbeing and future
• Mountains, beaches and national parks at your doorstep

Applications close | Rā whakakapi

Please apply online by Friday 25 September 2026. Applications will be reviewed as received, and the vacancy may close early if a suitable candidate is found. We encourage you to apply without delay.

To be considered for this role, you'll need to have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

For further enquiries | Ina he pātai anō, whakapā mai

Please reach out to Chris Miles, Manager Resource Consents: [e-mail] or Adrian Ramage, Team Leader Resource Consents: [e-mail]