Strategic Consents Programme Manager

Watercare; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training opportunities

Life insurance

Generous parental leave

Employee discounts

Job summary

Watercare in Auckland seeks a Strategic Consenting Programme Manager to lead large-scale, multi-year consenting programmes, aligning strategy, consenting and asset planning to meet statutory obligations and community commitments. You will work with executives, regulators, iwi and consultants to drive governance, develop strategies, manage budgets and risks, and deliver milestones across complex projects.

This role requires a graduate or postgraduate degree in a related field and 10+ years of

Qualifications

• Graduate/postgraduate degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Planning or related field.
• 10+ years leading large-scale programmes, ideally in consenting, infrastructure or utilities.
• Experience navigating regulatory environments and statutory planning processes.
• Proven success leading high-profile programmes in large organisations.
• Strong political acumen and ability to influence executives and boards.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of strategic consenting programmes and governance frameworks.
• Develop consenting strategies responsive to current and future legislation and regulations.
• Align consenting programmes with infrastructure planning, asset management and operations.
• Manage programme scope, budgets, schedules, risks and resources.
• Establish and maintain relationships with regulators, iwi, community groups and external stakeholders.
• Lead consultation and engagement across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Provide strategic advice and programme updates to senior leaders and Board audiences.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including engineers, planners and environmental specialists.
• Drive business case development, procurement strategies and commercial decision-making.
• Manage transition from consent acquisition through to long-term operational compliance.

Skills

Political acumen

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Engagement

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Environmental Science

Planning

Project Management

Job description

He kōrero mō mātou | About Watercare

Ki te ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata When the water is healthy, the land and the people are healthy Now is an exciting time to join Watercare, we're planning to spend $14 billion over the next 10 years to ensure we can continue to support our growing city in a climate-resilient way. When you average that out, that's an investment of $3.8 million every day!

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role

We are looking for Strategic Consenting Programme Manager to join our Strategy and Planning team in Newmarket. In this pivotal leadership role, you'll lead one or more large-scale, multi-year strategic consenting programmes that are critical to Auckland's water and wastewater future. You'll drive alignment between strategy, consenting and asset planning, ensuring key programme milestones are delivered while enabling Watercare to meet its statutory obligations and community commitments. Working closely with executive leaders, regulators, iwi, elected members, community groups and technical specialists, you'll provide programme leadership across complex consenting initiatives, balancing strategic priorities, stakeholder expectations and long-term infrastructure outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and delivery of strategic consenting programmes and associated governance frameworks
• Developing consenting strategies that respond to current and future legislative and regulatory requirements
• Aligning consenting programmes with infrastructure planning, asset management and operational priorities
• Managing programme scope, budgets, schedules, risks and resource requirements
• Establishing strong relationships with regulators, iwi, community groups and other key external stakeholders
• Leading consultation and engagement activities across diverse stakeholder groups
• Providing strategic advice and programme updates to senior executives and Board-level audiences
• Coordinating multidisciplinary teams including engineers, planners, environmental specialists and consultants
• Driving business case development, procurement strategies and commercial decision-making
• Managing the transition from consent acquisition through to operational compliance and long-term programme success.

Ngā pūkenga e rapu nei mātou | About you

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• A graduate/post graduate degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Planning, Project Management or a related discipline
• At least 10 years' experience leading large-scale programme or project delivery, ideally within consenting, infrastructure, utilities or related sectors
• Experience navigating complex regulatory environments and statutory planning processes
• Demonstrated success leading high-profile programmes within large, complex organisations
• Strong political acumen and experience influencing executive and Board-level stakeholders
• Knowledge of New Zealand's regulatory framework, including the Resource Management Act, Local Government Act and water sector regulations
• Proven experience managing multiple stakeholders and building trusted relationships across government, community and industry groups
• Exceptional communication, engagement and presentation skills
• Experience working alongside iwi and Māori partners
• Strong commercial and financial management capability, including business case development, procurement and risk management
• A collaborative leadership style, strategic mindset and passion for delivering outcomes that benefit Auckland communities for generations to come.

Ngā hua mōu | What's in it for you

We offer a competitive salary and staff benefits package including:

• Training and development opportunities
• Life and income protection insurance plans
• Generous parental leave
• Employee discounts at a range of large retailers