Senior Compliance Officer

New Zealand Transport Agency; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 93,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

5 weeks annual leave

Competitive salary package

Job summary

New Zealand Transport Agency is seeking a Senior Compliance Officer to join our Compliance Teams, driving audits, reviews and investigations to uphold safety and regulatory integrity in New Zealand’s land transport system.

The role involves risk‑based decision making, stakeholder engagement across Canterbury, and mentoring colleagues, with travel and a full driver’s license required.

We offer a competitive salary, five weeks annual leave, flexible work options and a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in complex audit and review management within a regulatory or enforcement environment.
• Ability to gather, analyse, verify, and weigh information and evidence to support sound decision-making in high-risk cases.
• Experience planning, delivering and reporting audits.
• Experience designing and delivering training, safety education, and sector engagement to build compliance capability.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking proactive assessments of licensed commercial transport operators.
• Applying recognised risk assessment practices to investigation and auditing processes.
• Developing and managing relationships with transport service licence holders and stakeholders.
• Mentoring team members and contributing to continuous improvement of regulatory capability.

Skills

Audit & review management

Analytical reasoning

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory enforcement experience

Training design & delivery

Education

Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in regulatory compliance

Knowledge of Te Ao Māori & tikanga; path to Te Reo Māori

Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in public sector

Job description

The opportunity

We have an opportunity for a Senior Compliance Officer to join our team. Our Compliance Teams are at the forefront of ensuring safe and lawful participation in NewZealand’s land transport system. They deliver operational regulatory activities including audits, reviews, compliance monitoring, and investigations into breaches of legislation and regulatory requirements. By applying a risk‑based approach and taking decisive action where safety standards are not met, the team helps protect the public, strengthen regulatory integrity, and ensure confidence in the transport system. This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that has a direct impact on road safety and public trust.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking proactive assessments of licensed commercial transport operators
• Applying relevant recognised risk assessment practices to investigation and auditing process
• Developing and managing effective relationships with assigned transport service licence holders and relevant key stakeholders
• Share expertise and mentor others within the Compliance teams, contributing to continuous improvement, consistent practice, and lifting overall regulatory capability

Travel is a key part of this role and you will be regularly engaging with operators in the Canterbury operating area as and when required. You must have a full driver licence, with no convictions.

Salary

We are seeking to appoint at a salary between $92,700 to $103,000 commensurate to skills and experience.

About you

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced regulator with understanding and knowledge of transport who is looking for their next challenge. To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Experience in complex audit and review management within a regulatory or enforcement environment
• Proven ability to gather, analyse, verify, and weigh information and evidence to support sound decision‑making in complex and high‑risk cases
• Have experience in assessment (audit) planning, delivery and reporting
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to produce accurate, well‑reasoned documentation and briefs of evidence capable of withstanding legal scrutiny
• Experience designing and delivering training, safety education, and sector engagement activities to build compliance capability and support improved safety outcomes
• The ability to build relationships and appreciate different points of view

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in a regulatory compliance role
• Demonstrated knowledge of, or a willingness to learn an understanding of Te Ao Māori and tikanga as well as to work towards fluency in Te Reo Māori.
• You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of teTiritioWaitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector.

About us

The Safer Commercial Transport team is responsible for regulating commercial transport operators: from heavy vehicles to small passenger services. We do this by monitoring our sector through audits, reviews and investigations and working with industry to drive best practice. The team regulates transport operators that have been licensed to operate as a transport service.

What you will get in return

We care about our people and invest in supporting our staff at NZTA. If you join us, you can expect:

• A supportive working environment
• Flexible working options
• A competitive salary package, aligned with your skills and experience
• 5 weeks annual leave and other great benefits.

Eligibility and Equality

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in NewZealand.

WakaKotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values.

Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.

Applications close: 13 November 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

About Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

At WakaKotahi NZ Transport Agency, it all starts with our people. The organisation's performance and success depends on the people who choose to make this a great place to work and make a difference for Aotearoa. Waka Kotahi has a strong future focus, understanding that new technologies and changing customer expectations mean the transport system we know today will not be the one we deliver in ten years time.