Team Lead Environmental Planning

New Zealand Transport Agency; Manawatū-Whanganui; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Leadership development

Impactful projects

Shape NZ transport future

Job summary

New Zealand Transport Agency – Manawatu County is seeking a Team Lead Environmental Planning to lead a team of specialist planners and shape environmental outcomes across a portfolio of transport projects. You will influence planning and consenting, support projects from development through delivery, and collaborate with iwi and authorities.

The role requires proven leadership, strong environmental planning expertise and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership with experience developing people and teams.
• Extensive environmental planning experience in statutory processes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Ability to influence complex programmes and deliver pragmatic outcomes.
• Strategic thinker with cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; knowledge of planning legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high‑performing environmental planning team.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and development.
• Influence planning and consenting outcomes across projects.
• Collaborate with iwi, local authorities, government agencies and partners.
• Support projects from early development through delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Environmental planning

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Communication

Planning legislation knowledge

Tertiary qualification

Education

Tertiary qualification in planning/environmental management

Job description

New Zealand Transport Agency – Manawatu County

• Location flexibility: Preferably based in Wellington, with Palmerston North, Nelson, New Plymouth and Napier also considered. Technical Planning team roles are ideally based in Wellington, Auckland or Hamilton, although applications from other NZ locations are welcome.

- 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 will find out more about this role, here: Position Description

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.

About us

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.

Ready to make a difference?

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.

NZTA| 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.