Senior Advisor Regulation

Environmental Protection Authority NZ; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 107,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working culture

Three extra paid leave days between X"

$400 home setup payment

EPA Environment Day

Māori cultural capability building

Learning opportunities (EPA Symposium)

Social club and networks

EPA awards

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Environmental Protection Authority NZ in Wellington seeks a Senior Policy Advisor to provide specialist regulatory policy advice on complex programmes with significant risk. The role collaborates with ministry colleagues to influence environmental law reform and ensure changes can be operationalised.

Hybrid working is preferred to full-time work from home. You will help the EPA continually improve regulatory performance to protect the environment and reduce risk.

Qualifications

• Experience in regulatory policy development and implementation.
• 5+ years’ experience advising on strategic, regulatory and/or operational policy in local or central government.
• Strong knowledge of policy frameworks and policy development processes.
• Strong knowledge of machinery of government processes and the Crown entities interface.
• Clear understanding of regulatory systems, including regulatory stewardship, policy development and operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist regulatory policy advice for complex programmes with significant risk and sensitivity.
• Collaborate with policy ministry colleagues to influence environmental law reform and operationalisation of legislative changes.
• Support EPA to continually improve regulatory performance and environmental protection.

Skills

Policy development

Regulatory policy

Stakeholder engagement

Machinery of government

Regulatory stewardship

Critical thinking

Communication

Relationship building

Job description

As New Zealand's environmental regulator, the work we do today helps shape the future of our tomorrow.

Our purpose | To tatou kaupapa

We are the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Aotearoa New Zealand’s independent environmental regulator. Our role is important: to help protect our country’s unique way of life by looking out for the health of its environment, its economy and its people.

Our kaupapa is about making the right decisions based on evidence, mātauranga, and science. At the EPA, we encourage big ideas and bold goals.

What we achieve today helps shape the future of New Zealand for generations to come.

About our group | Mō te roopu

The purpose of Kaupapa Kura Taiao group is to drive transformational change in the EPA, guided by TeAo Māori and excellent regulatory practice aligned with HeWhetū Mārama.

Kaupapa Kura Taiao is made up of two business units each with specialist expertise that work across the EPA:

• Māori Engagement and Operations champions He Whetū Mārama and the EPA’s Mātauranga Framework; and leads Māori engagement to enable effective Māori participation in the EPA's policies, processes and decisions.
• Regulatory Policy works across the EPA and with relevant government agencies to develop and/ or amend the environmental legislation that the EPA operates under and to improve the EPA’s regulatory stewardship, processes, and capability.

He Whetū Mārama is the framework that guides the EPA in the undertaking of its statutory and other obligations to Māori. It is based on our EPA wawata which recognises that the unique relationship of Māori to the environment informs EPA decision making.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

This is a fixed term role for 1 year.

This role is based in our Wellington office. Flexible working arrangements can be negotiated but a hybrid working model is preferred over full time working from home arrangements.

We are looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to provide specialist regulatory policy advice for the EPA by supporting complex policy programmes on complicated issues with significant sensitivity and risk. Of particular focus is working with our policy ministry colleagues at the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport to help influence environmental law reform, and to ensure that legislative changes can be effectively operationalised. We also work internally to support the EPA to continually improve its regulatory performance to enable improved environmental protection and reduced regulatory risk.

About you | Mōhou ake

You will have a regulatory policy background, ideally with experience in both 'Big P' policy and operational policy roles. Experience in the natural resources sector is preferred but is not essential. Alongside this, we are looking for an individual with a range of skills and capabilities including:

• Experience in regulatory policy development and implementation
• 5+ years’ experience advising on matters of strategic, regulatory and/or operational policy in local or central government (as a guideline)
• Strong knowledge of policy frameworks and policy development process
• Strong knowledge of machinery of government processes, particularly in regards to the interface between parliament and the executive, and the role of crown entities
• Clear understanding of regulatory systems, including regulatory stewardship strategic, regulatory and operational policy
• Critical ability, including problem solving and analysis
• Ability to develop strong relationships and communicate well

What’s in it for you | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

There are a range of benefits our people value:

• flexible working culture
• three additional paid leave days between Christmas and New Years in addition to four weeks’ annual leave
• $400 non-taxable payment to help you set up working at home
• an annual paid EPA Environment Day to support the community with environmental initiatives
• in-house Māori cultural capability building programme
• learning opportunities, including the annual EPA Symposium
• active and lively social club, and diverse groups and support networks
• EPA awards recognising individual and team effort
• relocation help for those moving to New Zealand from overseas.

Salary range

$106,532 – $159,798 per annum (midpoint $133,165). This is the full salary range. Appointments are made within the range depending on skills and experience.

Applications close

Sunday 5pm, 4 October 2026.