Senior Rural Advisor

Hawke's Bay Regional Council; Napier; On-site; NZD 89,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

5 weeks annual leave after 3 years

Life insurance

Income protection

Eye tests and lenses

Job summary

Hawke's Bay Regional Council in Napier invites a Senior Rural Advisor to join the Integrated Catchment Management Group. This full-time, permanent role leads rural engagement, supports catchment resilience, and delivers programmes across environmental science, land management, biodiversity, and biosecurity.

You will work with landowners, catchment groups, whānau Māori, community partners, and government agencies to translate data into practical, on-the-ground outcomes and contribute to Hawke

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in land management or related field.
• Experience leading or supporting complex rural projects or programmes.
• Current driver’s licence and legal right to work in New Zealand.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support rural engagement, catchment resilience, and project delivery initiatives.
• Coordinate bio-management projects and responses to rural resilience events.
• Collaborate with landowners, catchment groups, whenua Māori, community partners and government agencies to deliver practical, science-based outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Education

Tertiary qualification in land management or related field

Job description

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Hawke's Bay Regional Council – Napier City, North Island

$88,995 - $104,700 a year

Full time, Permanent

7d ago , from Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

We are looking for a Senior Rural Advisor to join our Integrated Catchment Management Group. This is full time, permanent opportunity based in Napier.

The Integrated Catchment Management Group is responsible for the delivery of programmes across environmental science, environmental information, catchment management, biodiversity, biosecurity, and land management.

This role will lead and support rural engagement, catchment resilience, and project delivery initiatives that contribute to environmental protection, sustainable land use, and resilient rural communities. This role plays a key part in delivering our Land for Life programme, progressing the Hawke's Bay Catchment Alliance, coordinating bio management projects, and leading responses to rural resilience events. Working closely with landowners, catchment groups, whenua Māori, community partners, and government agencies, the role helps ensure practical, coordinated, and science-based outcomes that support integrated catchment management across the region.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative and purpose-driven team, using your expertise to deliver meaningful environmental and rural outcomes across Hawke's Bay.

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

You will be a practical and relationship focused professional with experience working alongside rural communities and delivering projects that achieve positive environmental and community outcomes. You will bring strong project management capability, sound judgement, and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver effective, customer-focused solutions.

Ideally you will also have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and experience in land management, rural advisory services, catchment management, environmental management, biosecurity, biodiversity, or a related field
• Experience leading or supporting complex projects or programmes, including planning, risk management, milestone tracking, and reporting
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret technical information and translate it into practical outcomes
• A current driver's licence and the legal right to work in New Zealand.

The salary range for this role is between $88,995 to $104,700 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Other benefits of working for our team include:

• Flexible working options to support work/life balance
• 5 weeks annual leave after 3 years
• Life insurance and income protection
• Subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives
• Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment.

See a full list of our staff benefits here.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. We recognise that collaborative and innovative organisations depend on having a workforce made up from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. We're all about excellence, and we encourage open communication – if you need any specific support, just let us know! Our main goal is to empower each person to share their unique talents to contribute to the outcomes for our community. This commitment ensures that our workplace is a dynamic and progressive space where everyone can flourish.

HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

We focus on prioritising:

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua|Climate-smart and sustainable land use.