Team Leader - Water Ecology Science

Environment Canterbury; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment Canterbury seeks an experienced science leader to head a team of water ecology specialists. You will drive research and provide expert advice to inform environmental management across Canterbury.

You will lead multidisciplinary programs, engage with iwi and stakeholders, and ensure quality research outputs while managing delivery, budgets and resources. A strong background in freshwater science and Te Ao Māori is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience developing and supporting high-performing teams.
• Strong people leadership capability to coach, motivate and deliver outcomes.
• Experience building a positive team culture with clear expectations.
• Deep technical expertise in water ecology, water quality or freshwater science.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience leading complex science projects and multidisciplinary programmes.
• Understanding of te ao Māori and ability to work with iwi and partners.
• Five years with Master’s or ten years with Bachelor in water context.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a team of water ecology scientists and researchers.
• Providing scientific leadership on water quality and ecological outcomes across Canterbury.
• Delivering high-quality research, advice and QA for science outputs.
• Building partnerships with Ngāi Tahu, stakeholders and science networks.
• Managing programme delivery, budgets, priorities and resources.

Skills

Leadership

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Water ecology expertise

Water quality expertise

Multidisciplinary program leadership

iwi and community collaboration

Strategic partnership building

Education

Master's degree (preferred) or Bachelor's in water-related discipline

Ecology-focused water-resource degree

Job description

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• Lead water ecology science and environmental research
• Work for New Zealand's largest regional council
• Grow your leadership impact in a purpose-driven organisation

As a regional council, we are responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. 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).

This is an exciting leadership opportunity within our Science Group, where you'll lead a team of water ecology specialists delivering research and advice to support environmental management across Canterbury. You'll play a key role in shaping how we understand and respond to water quality and ecological challenges, while leading a high-performing team that provides trusted science to inform planning, policy, consent decision-making and environmental outcomes. Working closely with other science leaders, iwi partners, stakeholders and decision-makers, you'll help ensure our science remains relevant, collaborative and impactful.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a team of water ecology scientists and researchers
• Providing scientific leadership on water quality and ecological outcomes across Canterbury
• Delivering high-quality research, advice and quality assurance for science outputs
• Building strong partnerships with Ngāi Tahu, stakeholders and science networks
• Managing programme delivery, budgets, priorities and resources to achieve outcomes

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

You are an experienced science leader with a strong background in freshwater ecology, water quality or water resource management. You combine technical credibility with significant people leadership expertise and are passionate about using science to deliver meaningful environmental outcomes. You'll be comfortable navigating complex stakeholder environments, leading multidisciplinary work programmes and building collaborative relationships across organisations and communities. Commitment to te ao Māori, partnership principles and continuous improvement will be central to your approach.

You will bring:

• Proven leadership experience developing and supporting high-performing teams
• Strong people leadership capability, with the ability to coach, motivate and support team members to deliver high-quality outcomes
• Experience building a positive team culture where people feel supported, empowered and clear on expectations
• Deep technical expertise in water ecology, water quality or freshwater science
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Experience leading complex science projects and multidisciplinary programmes
• An understanding of te ao Māori and the ability to work effectively with iwi and community partners
• A Master's degree (preferred) or Bachelor's degree in a water-related discipline with a strong ecology component
• Five years' professional experience in water resource assessment with a Master's degree, or ten years' experience with a Bachelor's degree
• Experience linking water quality and ecological outcomes within a water resource management context
• Demonstrated success leading research projects, people and operational delivery programmes
• Experience working with iwi, stakeholders and community groups to achieve shared outcomes
• Sound understanding of resource management and regional council environmental responsibilities

Our mahi is underpinned by our values:

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.

Applications close on Monday 26 October

To be considered for this opportunity, candidates must have the legal right to work in New Zealand at the time of application and hold work rights that will enable them to fulfil the full term of employment.

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.