Principal Water Supply Modeller

Tauranga City Council; Tauranga; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Career development opportunities

Strong team culture

Job summary

As Tauranga City Council seeks a Principal Water Supply Modeller, you’ll provide technical leadership across water supply modelling for Tauranga’s network and help shape growth planning, resilience, and long-term investment decisions. Based in Tauranga, you’ll lead with a collaborative team and turn complex outputs into strategic advice for decision-makers.

This is a role with ownership of modelling standards, engagement with planning and operations, and mentoring of staff and consultants to

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering or equivalent.
• 10+ years’ experience modelling complex water supply networks.
• Hydraulic modelling and network performance expertise.
• Ability to translate modelling into planning and investment decisions.
• Strong data handling and model validation skills.
• Effective communication of technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Collaborative approach with planning, operations, asset management and consultants.

Responsibilities

• Provide principal-level technical leadership for water supply hydraulic modelling.
• Lead complex network assessments for growth, resilience, and investments.
• Set modelling standards for build, calibration, validation, scenario management, reporting and handover.
• Translate modelling outputs into advice for structure planning, development assessments, business cases, renewals, upgrades and long-term programmes.
• Review data, GIS, telemetry, field testing and growth forecasts to improve confidence.
• Mentor staff and consultants to strengthen internal modelling capability.

Skills

Hydraulic modelling

Network performance

Demand forecasting

Calibration

Scenario planning

Model validation

Technical communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)

Job description

Tau ake rā te moana nei, e papaki kau ana ki te ākau tangata, kakenga waka ka mauru te tohu ki te arearenga o Mauao, he pou herenga mōu, he pou hononga mōu, kia herea ki te tika, kia herea ki te pono. Kia mau, kia ita, kia ū – haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!

Te Tūranga | About the role

As our Principal Water Supply Modeller, you’ll provide technical leadership across water supply modelling for Tauranga’s network. You’ll help shape how we plan for growth, assess network performance, build resilience, and make investment decisions that support the city’s future.

Based in Tauranga, you’ll join a supportive and technically strong City Waters Planning team, working closely with planning, operations, asset management, digital, development engineering and consultant partners. This role offers the opportunity to take real ownership of the modelling space, set clear standards, and turn complex outputs into advice that helps drive real infrastructure decisions.

This could be a great next step if you enjoy the technical depth of modelling, but want stronger ownership of the network, closer relationships with decision-makers, and the chance to contribute to a city where the impact of your work is visible.

• Providing principal-level technical leadership for water supply hydraulic modelling.
• Leading complex network assessments that support growth, resilience, operational planning and long-term investment decisions.
• Setting modelling standards for model build, calibration, validation, scenario management, reporting and handover.
• Turning modelling outputs into clear advice for structure planning, development assessments, business cases, renewals, upgrades and long-term programmes.
• Reviewing assumptions, input data, GIS, telemetry, field testing information and growth forecasts to improve model confidence and decision quality.
• Mentoring staff and consultants to strengthen internal modelling capability and consistency of technical delivery.

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• A Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, or another relevant tertiary qualification.
• At least 10 years’ experience modelling complex water supply networks.
• Strong technical knowledge of hydraulic modelling, network performance, demand forecasting, calibration, and scenario planning.
• Experience using modelling advice to support infrastructure planning, development, operations, resilience, and investment decisions.
• Confidence testing data, assumptions, model outputs, and technical recommendations.
• The ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to a range of audiences.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work well with planning, operations, asset management, digital, development engineering, consultants, and other internal customers.

Tō Tātou Kaunihera | About Tauranga City Council

At Tauranga City Council, our Waters Division plays a vital role in shaping the future of our city’s water infrastructure and services. Whether it’s managing stormwater, improving freshwater systems, or delivering innovative solutions for water supply and wastewater, our team is focused on protecting and enhancing Tauranga’s natural environment and community wellbeing.

We’re proud to be one of Tauranga’s largest employers, and we’re always looking for passionate, skilled professionals to join our collaborative and community-focused team. In the Waters Division, you’ll be part of a group that values technical excellence, teamwork and making a real impact.

• Five weeks of annual leave
• Career development opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals
• A strong team culture where your contributions are valued and your wellbeing is supported

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact Claudia Hellberg at [e-mail]

Applications will close Sunday 18th October

We’re committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those living with disabilities.

If you need any support or adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team [e-mail]

• You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this role.
• Tauranga City Council does not accept unsolicited contact or applications from recruitment agencies. We will not pay fees or commissions related to unsolicited contact.