Resource Management Technical Lead

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Canterbury in Christchurch seeks a highly experienced resource management professional to provide technical leadership across Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement. You will act as the recognised expert, offering specialist advice and guiding high‑risk compliance matters to ensure legally robust outcomes across the Canterbury region.

Working with policy teams, consent planners and partners, you will develop capability, coach staff and build strong relationships with mana whenua and

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Science, Engineering, Resource Management or related discipline.
• ≥10 years' experience in compliance monitoring and enforcement or related field.
• Extensive knowledge of the Resource Management Act and plan implementation.
• Proven experience coaching, mentoring and developing technical capability.
• Strong relationship management skills in politically and community-focused environments.

Responsibilities

• Leading technical standards, procedures and QA practices.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement staff.
• Providing expert advice on complex compliance and enforcement matters.
• Contributing technical expertise to policy, planning and regulatory change initiatives.
• Building strong relationships with mana whenua, stakeholders and industry partners.

Skills

Technical leadership

Coaching

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory understanding

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Science, Engineering, Resource Management or related discipline

Job description

Job Type: Permanent | Full Time

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Job Category: Environmental Services

• Provide technical leadership across compliance and enforcement
• Help protect and enhance Canterbury's natural environment
• Coach, mentor and develop as part of a highly skilled technical team

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 the taiao (environment).

Kōrero Mō Te Tūranga │ About The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced resource management professional to provide technical leadership across Environment Canterbury's Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement function. As the recognised technical expert, you'll provide specialist advice, lead best practice, support complex and high‑risk compliance matters, and help build organisational capability. Working closely with operational leaders, policy teams, consent planners and external partners, you'll play a key role in ensuring consistent, effective and legally robust compliance outcomes across the Canterbury region.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading technical standards, procedures and quality assurance practices.
• Coaching, mentoring and developing Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement staff.
• Providing expert advice on complex compliance and enforcement matters.
• Contributing technical expertise to policy, planning and regulatory change initiatives.
• Building strong relationships with mana whenua, stakeholders and industry partners.

Mōu │ About You

You are a respected technical leader with deep expertise in resource management compliance and enforcement. You enjoy sharing your knowledge, developing others, and working collaboratively to achieve positive environmental outcomes. You bring sound judgement, can navigate complex regulatory environments, and are confident engaging with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. You'll also value partnership with Ngāi Tahu and contribute to Environment Canterbury's commitment to becoming a Treaty Partner of Excellence.

You Will Bring

• A postgraduate qualification in Science, Engineering, Resource Management or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years' experience in compliance monitoring and enforcement or a related specialist field.
• Extensive knowledge of the Resource Management Act and resource management plan implementation.
• Proven experience coaching, mentoring and developing technical capability.
• Strong relationship management skills and experience working in politically and community-focused environments.

Mātau Ā-Wheako │ Experience

You'll be recognised by your peers as a trusted technical expert and have demonstrated success leading complex compliance or environmental management programmes. Experience working with regulatory frameworks, managing high-risk issues and providing strategic technical advice within local government or a similar environment will be highly regarded.

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

For a confidential chat about this role, please contactJames Tricker on 0278391341.

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