Senior Strategy Advisor

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Canterbury is seeking a Senior Strategy Advisor to lead strategic and policy advice for leaders and elected members in Canterbury. You will translate complex technical information into clear recommendations, working with specialists, operational leaders and external partners to shape resilience and climate initiatives.

You’ll join a collaborative team delivering strategic advice across climate and natural hazard resilience, guiding investments and decisions to support long-term

Qualifications

• 5 years of relevant working experience in strategy, policy, monitoring and evaluation, or related advisory work.
• Experience collaborating with team members and a range of partners and stakeholders.
• Understanding Canterbury's strategic issues related to natural hazards, climate change and resilience.

Responsibilities

• Assess emerging policy, regulatory, environmental and political developments for their implications.
• Embed hazard risk-informed and adaptive approaches into organisational decision-making.
• Support investment decisions to reflect hazard risk and align with strategic outcomes.
• Work with councils and regional partners to support coordinated climate action.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder communication

Collaboration

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification

Job description

Job Type: Permanent | Full Time

Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

Job Category: Consulting and Strategy

• Shape strategic advice for senior leaders and elected members
• Work on complex issues shaping Canterbury's future resilience
• Flexible start/finish hours + WFH options

Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | About Environment Canterbury

As a regional council, we are responsible for supporting the community to be prepared for, and able to respond to, natural and human induced hazards and events. We work in partnership with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu to protect the health of our environment to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our region.

The region’s evolving environmental and political context means we will continue to be agile and adaptive, as we respond to regulatory and environmental changes.

Our mahi (work) is organised around the delivery of our three core services:

• Environmental Regulation and Protection
• Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards
• Public Transport

Council plays an important role in responding to national legislation and policy changes - this mahi is part of our operating environment and is embedded in our everyday mahi. The current proposals from central government are significant, and Council is working through the opportunities and implications. However, our mahi must continue to deliver our three core services for our partners, communities and te taiao (environment).

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

You’ll lead the development of strategic and policy advice, turning complex technical, policy and environmental information into clear choices and recommendations for leaders and decision-makers. You’ll work with technical specialists, operational leaders and external partners to bring together evidence, identify strategic issues and opportunities, and provide advice that supports better long-term decisions.

Role

You’ll join a collaborative team of strategy advisors providing strategic advice across climate and natural hazard resilience. This role will provide strategic advice to the Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards core service, while also contributing to regional climate change and resilience initiatives. You’ll lead and contribute to work including:

• Assess emerging policy, regulatory, environmental and political developments and their implications for the organisation and region
• Embed hazard risk-informed and adaptive approaches into organisational and regional decision-making
• Support investment decisions to reflect hazard risk, value and alignment with strategic outcomes
• Work with councils and regional partners to support coordinated climate action across Canterbury

For more information on this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the advert.

Mōu | About You

You’re an experienced Senior Strategy Advisor who enjoys working on complex issues where there are no easy answers. You’ll bring strong analytical and problem-solving skills, sound judgement, and the ability to turn complex information into clear strategic advice that enables good decision-making. You’ll be comfortable working with and influencing people at different levels, building trusted relationships and bringing people together around complex issues.

Mātau ā-Wheako | Experience

Ideally, You’ll Have a Relevant Tertiary Qualification Or Other Relevant Technical Training With 5 Years Of Relevant Working Experience Along With

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to clearly and confidently communicate strategic advice to inform decision-making in a range of fora
• Experience in strategy, policy, monitoring and evaluation, or related strategic advisory work
• Experience and expertise in collaborating with team members and a range of partners and stakeholders
• An understanding of the strategic issues affecting Canterbury, particularly in relation to natural hazards, climate change and resilience
• Commitment to understanding and applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga and te ao Māori perspectives in strategic advice and engagement.
• Experience leading complex projects or programmes is desirable.

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

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

Job Description