Rivers Manager

Taituarā Resource Management Reference Group; Invercargill City, Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 139,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Good work-life balance

Affordable real estate

Job summary

Environment Southland seeks a Rivers Manager to lead integrated planning, design and delivery of river and catchment responsibilities under the Resource Management Act. You will oversee river teams, technical, design and planning functions within the Integrated Catchment Management Group to ensure robust, compliant and resilient outcomes.

You will bring a relevant tertiary qualification in environmental science, natural resource management or engineering, plus 10+ years' experience in leadership

Qualifications

• Leadership of technical and operational teams delivering river management.
• Experience planning, budgeting, risk and long-term work programmes.
• Ability to translate technical advice into practical operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design and delivery of river management under legislation.
• Oversee asset maintenance, repairs and emergency works.
• Provide advisory input to strategy, policy and investment decisions.

Skills

People leadership

Programme management

River & flood management

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Change leadership

Political awareness

People collaboration

Driver licence

Education

Environmental science

Natural resource management

Engineering

Asset management

Job description

Love where you work. Love where you live. Join Environment Southland and help shape the future of our region.

The role of the Rivers Manager is to lead the integrated planning, design and delivery of Environment Southland's operational responsibilities under the Resource Management Act, and other relevant legislation. The role is accountable for the performance of the combined operational delivery for river teams, technical, design and planning functions within the Integrated Catchment Management Group.

This role focuses on

• providing strong people leadership that builds engagement, capability, accountability and a high-performance culture;
• integrating operational, technical, design and planning expertise to manage flood risk, river management, and infrastructure through a catchment-based approach;
• overseeing the development, design, assurance, monitoring and cost-effective delivery of annual and long-term work programmes, including asset maintenance, repairs and emergency works;
• providing joined-up operational and technical advice to organisational strategy, policy, investment decisions and responses to legislative change; and
• working in partnership with mana whenua, communities, stakeholders and other ICM managers to deliver robust, compliant, efficient and resilient outcomes.

What you'll bring

• Demonstrated knowledge to fulfil requirements of the key accountabilities specified for this position.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in environmental science, natural resource management, engineering, asset management or a related field.
• At least 10 years' relevant experience, including effective leadership of people in technical and operational settings and substantial programme or project management experience.
• Strong knowledge of river and land management, flood risk, infrastructure or environmental management, with the ability to integrate technical advice into practical operational delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organise, lead, deliver, control and report on complex programmes, including budgets, risk, assurance, regulatory compliance and long-term work planning.
• Strong strategic, analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to interpret evidence, solve complex problems and recommend durable, practical solutions.
• Proven change leadership, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with Councillors, mana whenua, communities, technical specialists, senior leaders and the public.
• Politically savvy and experience dealing with sensitive and confidential issues.
• Ability to lead culturally competent teams, work alongside tangata whenua and operate effectively within te ao Māori and the Murihiku context.
• Political awareness, sound judgement and experience handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• A full current driver licence, including the ability to drive a manual vehicle.

Why Choose Environment Southland?

We have a lifestyle that is second to none, with easy access to beaches, rivers, lakes, ski fields, national parks and first-class sports facilities. We pride ourselves on the support we give our team to ensure a good work‑life balance is a priority. And with affordable real estate, short commutes and a great range of schools on offer there is something here for everyone!

An initial offer of remuneration will be made within the range $139,140 - $146,870

Working at Environment Southland requires all of our staff to uphold the council's Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities as part of their day-to‑day role. This might be through the appropriate delivery of functions through various legislation where Te Tiriti o Waitangi or partnering with mana whenua is required or upholding the commitments that our elected councillors have made to Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku through the Charter of Understanding.