Team Leader, Planning

Civil Defence Group; Wellington; On-site; NZD 156,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Department leave

Wellbeing allowance

Vision allowances

Job summary

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Wellington seeks a Team Leader, Planning to provide high‑level leadership across the national emergency management planning framework and response planning programme. You will lead multi‑agency collaboration and represent NEMA in strategic discussions at both national and international levels.

The role requires a strong background in planning, project management and personnel leadership, with the ability to adapt quickly in dynamic emergency

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Knowledge of emergency management processes and planning.
• Significant experience in managing projects or programmes to deliver outputs and outcomes.
• Significant experience in strategic and operational planning.
• Experience leading and chairing multi-agency committees, working groups or equivalents.
• Ability to identify, manage and minimise risks.
• Experience in persuading, influencing and building collaborative relationships.
• Experience in personnel management.
• Experience in operating in an operational environment and making decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and maintenance of the national emergency management planning framework, supporting guidance, and arrangements.
• Lead the development of the national response planning programme of work, including supporting regional planning to ensure national consistency and sector capability and capacity building.
• Lead at the national, and at times international level, in representing the Agency’s position by engaging with stakeholders at strategic or sector-wide levels.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Personnel management

Operational decision making

Coordination

Education

Tertiary qualification

Job description

Team Leader, Planning

Type:Permanent

Location:Wellington

Applications Close: 5:00pm, Sunday 15 November 2026

Kia hiwa rā! Are you an experienced people leader that lives and breathes Planning? Do you see yourself leading Planning at a system level? If so, consider this Tier 4 role with NEMA.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

The purpose of the Team Leader, Planning is to:

• Lead the development and maintenance of the national emergency management planning framework, supporting guidance, and arrangements;
• Lead the development of the national response planning programme of work, including supporting regional planning to ensure national consistency and sector capability and capacity building.
• Lead at the national, and at times international level, in representing the Agency’s position in advancing emergency management planning by actively engaging with relevant stakeholders, especially at strategic or sector-wide levels.

Your response role will be in the Planning function.

Due to the nature of our role in Emergency Management, NEMA has a very dynamic work environment and as a small agency, staff are often required to pivot and change focus on their work at short notice. Attributes of adaptability, agility, resilience and curiosity are all required on a daily basis, in and out of times of emergency response.

Ko wai koe | About you

We are looking for a candidate with the following skills, experience and attributes:

Essential

• A relevant tertiary qualification or an equivalent body of knowledge and experience,
• including a knowledge of emergency management processes and planning
• Significant experience in managing projects, or programmes, to deliver expected outputs and outcomes
• Significant experience in strategic and operational planning
• Experience leading and chairing multi-agency committees, working groups or for as
• Ability to identify, manage and minimise risks
• Experience in persuading, influencing, building and maintaining effective collaborative
• relationships
• Experience in personnel management
• Experience in working in an operational environment and operational decision making

Desirable

• Experience in emergency coordination and/or operations centres
• An understanding of business continuity
• An understanding of the Emergency Management Act 2026 the National CDEM Plan 2015, and supporting plans
• Knowledge of the Machinery of Government and policy processes
• Understanding of the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS)

Ko wai mātou | About us

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides national leadership to New Zealand's distributed emergency management system. NEMA's primary focus is on the performance and capability of the emergency management system as a whole, across all hazards and all risks and the 4 Rs of risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery.

NEMA values diversity and inclusion. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our communities. We value and respect the contributions of our people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives.

We are committed to doing our part to deliver on the Crown's commitments to Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to actively build te Ao Māori perspectives and capability into our day to day work, values and practices.

Ta matou e tuku|What we offer

We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and understand the importance of fostering a working environment where excellence is recognised and where staff are encouraged to develop their own talents and potential. We welcome diversity, in all its forms and we believe it is a strength.

NEMA values staff health, safety and wellbeing, and a positive work life balance is encouraged.

The indicative BASE salary range for this role is $156,000 - $190,000, depending on experience.

NEMA offers other benefits such as Department leave, Wellbeing allowance, Vision allowances and more.

Whakaritenga Haumaru|Security Requirements

Due to the security requirements of this role, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident.