Team Lead Environmental Planning

JobSpace; Hawke's Bay; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Leadership development

Influence major projects

Career growth

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) is seeking a Team Lead Environmental Planning to guide a team of specialists and influence planning outcomes across a portfolio of major transport projects. This leadership role focuses on environmental planning across the project lifecycle, from development through delivery.

You will provide technical leadership, coaching, and development while collaborating with iwi, local authorities and industry partners to shape New Zealand's transport network.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Extensive experience in environmental/resource management planning or statutory processes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience influencing complex programmes and delivering pragmatic outcomes.
• Strategic thinking across competing priorities and project lifecycles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of planning legislation, policy and transport-related decision-making processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a high-performing team of environmental planning professionals.
• Provide strategic leadership on environmental planning practice and consenting outcomes.
• Navigate complex statutory planning challenges and represent NZTA in forums.
• Collaborate with project teams, iwi, local authorities and industry partners to deliver transport outcomes.

Skills

Team leadership

Environmental planning

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Communication (written and verbal)

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Tertiary qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Are you an experienced leader who thrives on developing people, influencing outcomes, and delivering infrastructure that makes a difference for Aotearoa New Zealand? Do you have strong environmental planning experience?

At NZTA, we're delivering some of the country's most significant transport investments. As Team Lead Environmental Planning, you'll lead a team of specialist planners while helping shape the planning, consenting and environmental outcomes that enable New Zealand's transport network to evolve and grow. Based within our Infrastructure Development & Delivery group, you'll play a key role in supporting projects from early development through to delivery, ensuring planning excellence is embedded across the project lifecycle.

This is a people leadership role where you'll build and lead a high-performing team of environmental planning professionals, providing technical leadership, coaching and development while influencing planning and consenting outcomes across a diverse portfolio of transport projects. You'll work closely with project teams, iwi, local authorities, government agencies and industry partners to support transport outcomes that create lasting value for New Zealand.

You'll provide strategic leadership on environmental planning practice, navigate complex consenting and statutory planning challenges, and represent NZTA in regional and national forums. This is an opportunity to influence nationally significant infrastructure projects while helping shape the future of New Zealand's transport network.

You'll be an experienced leader who brings technical credibility, sound judgement and a genuine passion for developing people. To be successful, you'll bring:

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Extensive experience in environmental / resource management planning or related statutory processes
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Experience influencing complex programmes and delivering pragmatic outcomes
• Strategic thinking capability and the ability to work across competing priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of planning legislation, policy and transport-related decision-making processes
• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience.

Infrastructure Development & Delivery is responsible for developing and delivering New Zealand's national land transport capital programme. We bring together the full project lifecycle, helping ensure transport investments are well defined, de-risked and successfully delivered for the benefit of New Zealanders.

At NZTA, you'll join an organisation committed to delivering transport networks that improve how people move and connect. We foster a culture where people are empowered to lead, collaborate and make a meaningful impact for New Zealand.

What we offer:

• Lead and grow a team of environmental planning professionals
• Influence nationally significant transport and infrastructure projects
• Flexible working and supportive leadership
• Ongoing professional and leadership development
• The opportunity to help shape New Zealand's future transport system

We're committed to actively working alongside Māori as Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners and creating an inclusive environment where Māori perspectives, aspirations and outcomes are valued. We encourage applicants who have knowledge of, or a willingness to build their understanding of, Te Ao Māori, tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

For further information, email: *******@nzta.govt.nz

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.