Senior Consents Planner

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional council in New Zealand is seeking a Senior Consents Planner to provide expert support in resource management. The role involves engaging with the community, processing complex consents, and contributing to significant projects in the Canterbury region. The ideal candidate has a tertiary qualification in a relevant field and strong communication skills, along with a keenness to work collaboratively. This position offers an exciting opportunity to enhance your career while making a positive impact on the environment.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Flexible-working options

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Strong communicator who connects easily with community and stakeholders.
• Experience in processing complex consents and case management.
• Understanding of Māori Rights in the Resource Management Framework.

Responsibilities

• Provide planning advice and support on Resource Management processes.
• Engage with applicants and assess environmental effects of applications.
• Presenting in hearings/panel reviews.

Skills

Strong communicator

Critical thinking

Collaboration

Education

Tertiary qualification in Planning, Natural Resources, or Environmental Management

Job description

Job Type: Permanent | Full Time

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Job Category: Environmental Services

• Provide planning advice, support & guidance on Resource Management processes
• Live, Work, and Play in the stunning Canterbury Region
• Competitive salaries & flexible-working options

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha │ About Environment Canterbury

Waitaha - our Canterbury region - is like no other and we are proud to call it home. We are privileged to be working with Ngā Papatipu Rūnanga, stakeholders, and our wider community to protect our environment, including water, land, and air through regulation and planning. As a Regional Council we're responsible for flood protection, public transport, civil defence, and more.

Together we're taking action to shape a thriving and resilient Canterbury, now and for future generations. Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te tangata, If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

As the Senior Consents Planner, you’ll be exposed to some of the most exciting and significant projects – Including irrigation schemes, waste-to-energy plants, and water management to name a few! Exposure to these projects will enhance your career significantly. The benefit of office- and field-based work ensures you get the best of both worlds. We encourage our team to get out onsite to engage with applicants and this also enables staff to have a clear understanding of the site and any further information that may be required to assess the environmental effects of an application.

Mōu │ About You

Ideally, you’ll be tertiary qualified in Planning, Natural Resources, Environmental Management, or other relevant discipline. You’ll be a strong communicator, someone that connects easily with the community, customers, members of your team, and key stakeholders. You’ll be a natural collaborator drawing people together and building trust as you provide advanced technical leadership in resource management.

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience

• Tertiary qualification in resource management or a related discipline, backed with extensive experience in Planning
• Sound knowledge of the national direction and an interest in the review of the Resource Management Act
• Experience processing complex consents
• Proven ownership of case management and timeliness with processing application(s)
• Experience presenting in hearings/panel reviews
• Critical thinking, solutions focussed
• Supporting across the team and section meeting our solutions focused approach to RMA aligned timeframes
• A working understanding of Māori Rights in the Resource Management Framework
• A sound understanding/previous training in Te Tiritī o Waitangi & the obligations and requirements of local government to Te Tiriti

If you're excited about this opportunity but you feel your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage your application.

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 contact Tavisha Fernando on 027 252 9062.

Applications close on Sunday, 19 October. We encourage you to register your interest early. We will be reviewing applications as we receive them and reserve the right to close the advertising early.

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

Job Description

Senior Consents Planner