Senior Planner

JobSpace; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD in Wellington is seeking a highly motivated Senior Planner to contribute to a diverse portfolio spanning transport, water, renewable energy and social infrastructure. You will lead environmental assessments, manage projects, and mentor junior planners within a national team.

The role emphasizes client management, business development and cross-disciplinary collaboration, with flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 8 years' experience in environmental planning.
• Full Membership of the NZPI (or working towards this).
• Proven technical planning record in regional council, local council or private sector planning including the consenting of infrastructure projects.
• Project management experience, including financials, budgets, programming.
• Experience in client management and business development.
• Experience in community and stakeholder engagement advantageous.
• Well-developed communication skills - both verbal and written.
• Proactive, decisive, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical thinker; self-motivated and energetic.
• Enthusiastic to work collaboratively with other technical disciplines and think laterally to deliver integrated solutions on multi-disciplinary projects.

Responsibilities

• Leading and contributing to the preparation of comprehensive environmental assessments and planning approval applications for multi-disciplinary projects.
• Acting as a Project Manager for routine projects, collaborating effectively with project stakeholders to ensure positive client experience in project delivery.
• Working with a national team of planners, including learning from our highly experienced Technical Directors and supporting the growth and development of less experienced planners, coaching and motivating them to deliver quality outcomes for our clients.
• Leading and contributing to the preparation of proposals and seeking out business development opportunities in a client-facing role.
• Growing and developing professionally through mentoring, training, and active involvement in professional organisations and our GHD global technical communities.
• Being part of our diverse, collaborative and supportive GHD culture, with the ability to work flexibly for work-life balance.
• There is an opportunity to leverage existing expertise or experience in community and stakeholder engagement, or upskill in this area, to develop and implement consultation and engagement strategies.

Skills

Environmental planning

Project management

Client management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Planning

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

There's no pledge more important than the one we make to look after our environment and communities, and we're committed to helping you do exactly that.

Join us as we strive for a sustainable future for our communities and the world we live in.

Become part of our global network of skilled engineers, scientists, planners and environmental specialists, all working together to leave this world better than we found it.

GHD is actively seeking highly motivated and skilled Senior Planner to join our team in Wellington.

We contribute to a wide variety of projects, with a strategic focus on transport, water, renewable energy and social infrastructure.

Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you:

• Leading and contributing to the preparation of comprehensive environmental assessments and planning approval applications for multi-disciplinary projects
• Acting as a Project Manager for routine projects, collaborating effectively with project stakeholders to ensure positive client experience in project delivery
• Working with a national team of planners, including learning from our highly experienced Technical Directors and supporting the growth and development of less experienced planners, coaching and motivating them to deliver quality outcomes for our clients
• Leading and contributing to the preparation of proposals and seeking out business development opportunities in a client-facing role
• Growing and developing professionally through mentoring, training, and active involvement in professional organisations and our GHD global technical communities
• Being part of our diverse, collaborative and supportive GHD culture, with the ability to work flexibly for work-life balance
• There is an opportunity to leverage existing expertise or experience in community and stakeholder engagement, or upskill in this area, to develop and implement consultation and engagement strategies

About you:

• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 8 years' experience in environmental planning
• Full Membership of the NZPI (or working towards this)
• Proven technical planning record in regional council, local council or private sector planning including the consenting of infrastructure projects
• Project management experience, including financials, budgets, programming
• Experience in client management and business development
• Experience in community and stakeholder engagement advantageous
• Well-developed communication skills - both verbal and written
• Proactive, decisive, and problem-solving skills
• Strong analytical thinker; self-motivated and energetic
• Enthusiastic to work collaboratively with other technical disciplines and think laterally to deliver integrated solutions on multi-disciplinary projects

At GHD we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities and invites applications from people of all nationalities, genders, and cultural backgrounds.

We respectfully ask that no agency resumes be presented at this stage.