Senior Environmental and Resource Planner

Christchurch City Council; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 115,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & development

Flexible working

Collaboration opportunities

Staff benefits

Job summary

Christchurch City Council is seeking a Senior Environmental and Resource Planner to provide expert planning advice on major infrastructure and environmental projects in Christchurch. You will support resource consent processes, manage planning risks and mentor junior staff within City Infrastructure's Professional & Technical Services team.

The role requires a degree in Planning or related field and 8+ years of post- graduate experience, with strong communication skills and ability to operate

Qualifications

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in Planning, Resource/Environmental Management, Policy, Law or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of relevant post-graduate experience, including significant experience in a similar role within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of resource management, environmental planning and consenting processes.
• Experience working on complex projects and managing environmental and planning risks.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to a wide range of audiences.
• The confidence to operate effectively across technical, management, public and political environments.

Responsibilities

• Providing expert planning and environmental advice on both major and minor Council infrastructure and environmental projects.
• Leading and supporting complex resource consent applications and environmental management planning.
• Assessing environmental and planning risks associated with Council projects.
• Advising project teams on compliance with planning and environmental legislation.
• Representing Council in hearings and preparing technical evidence where required.
• Building effective relationships with internal stakeholders, regulatory agencies, iwi, community groups and industry partners.
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting the development of junior and intermediate staff.
• Promoting best practice environmental and resource planning across the organisation.

Skills

Environmental planning

Resource management

Policy interpretation

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Planning or related

Job description

Senior Environmental and Resource Planner

Are you an experienced environmental and resource planning professional looking to make a meaningful impact on the future of Christchurch? We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Environmental and Resource Planner to join our Professional & Technical Services team within City Infrastructure.

This is a unique opportunity to provide expert planning advice on some of the city's most significant infrastructure, environmental and community projects while helping shape sustainable outcomes for our communities and natural environment.

About the role | Ko te mahi nei

As a Senior Environmental and Resource Planner, you will be a trusted technical expert, providing specialist guidance on the implementation of the Christchurch District Plan, Canterbury Regional Plans and the Resource Management Act. You will support the delivery of complex projects and resource consent applications while balancing environmental protection, infrastructure needs and community outcomes.

You will also play an important leadership role by mentoring planners, sharing technical expertise and contributing to a culture of professional excellence.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing expert planning and environmental advice on both major and minor Council infrastructure and environmental projects.
• Leading and supporting complex resource consent applications and environmental management planning.
• Assessing environmental and planning risks associated with Council projects.
• Advising project teams on compliance with planning and environmental legislation.
• Representing Council in hearings and preparing technical evidence where required.
• Building effective relationships with internal stakeholders, regulatory agencies, iwi, community groups and industry partners.
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting the development of junior and intermediate staff.
• Promoting best practice environmental and resource planning across the organisation.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in Planning, Resource/Environmental Management, Policy, Law or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of relevant post-graduate experience, including significant experience in a similar role within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of resource management, environmental planning and consenting processes.
• Experience working on complex projects and managing environmental and planning risks.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to a wide range of audiences.
• The confidence to operate effectively across technical, management, public and political environments.

Ideally, You'll Also Have

• Membership of a recognised professional body such as the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI), Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ), or a related professional organisation.
• Experience within local government or infrastructure-focused environments.
• Knowledge of environmental management planning, asset management planning and regulatory processes.

Why Join Us?

Working at Christchurch City Council means contributing to projects that shape the city's future. You'll join a collaborative team of professionals, work on diverse and meaningful projects, and have opportunities to further develop your expertise while making a genuine difference for Christchurch communities and the environment.

If you're a senior planning professional who thrives on solving complex environmental and resource management challenges and enjoys mentoring others, we'd love to hear from you.

What's in it for you? He aha ngā hua ki a koe?

Want to be involved in shaping your City? Here at the Council we know our strength comes from our people, working together as one team to create results. When you join us, you're getting involved first hand, and contributing to crafting the Christchurch community. You will also benefit from:

• Access to training programmes, workshops, and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements - WFH, adjustable start and finish times, option to purchase extra leave.
• Collaboration - exposure to wider areas of the organisation
• Benefits - a variety of benefits for Council staff from health schemes to retail discounts.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.

• Hours of work - 37.5-40 hours per week, to be worked from Monday to Friday
• Position - Permanent, full-time
• Location- This position is primarily based at Te Hononga, Christchurch City Council Civic Offices - 53 Hereford Street
• Salary- The salary band for this position goes from $115,466 to $128,295 per annum based on a 40 hour week. Starting salaries will be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, and relativities both, within the immediate team and in the broader organisation for the same or similar roles.
• Closing Date - 15/10/26