Three Waters Summer Internship - Operations Manual Development

Christchurch City Council; Christchurch, Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living wage

Job summary

Christchurch City Council’s Three Waters team invites two interns to help capture, organise and document operational knowledge supporting water, stormwater and wastewater services across the city. You’ll work with experienced staff to create practical operations manuals that staff can rely on long after your internship finishes.

The role offers exposure to infrastructure operations, process mapping, stakeholder engagement and technical communication in a large organisation.

Qualifications

• Interest in documenting operational processes and manuals.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear guidance.
• Experience with knowledge management or technical writing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Capture and organize operational knowledge for water services.
• Review existing procedures and templates to create consistent manuals.
• Collaborate with team leads and subject matter experts to document workflows.
• Translate technical information into practical instructions for staff.

Skills

Technical writing

Knowledge management

Process mapping

Stakeholder engagement

Business analysis

Information gathering

Continuous improvement

Tools

Survey123 forms

Job description

Three Waters Summer Internship - Operations Manual Development

Interested in seeing how essential water services keep Christchurch running?

Christchurch City Council’s Three Waters team are looking for two interns to help capture, organise and document the operational knowledge that supports the delivery of water, stormwater and wastewater services across the city. Working alongside experienced operational staff, you’ll help create practical operations manuals that will provide teams with a reliable and accessible source of information long after your internship has finished.

This is an opportunity to work on a substantial piece of real-world work while gaining exposure to infrastructure operations, process improvement, stakeholder engagement and technical communication in a large and complex organisation.

About the opportunity | Ko te whai wāhitanga nei

Throughout the internship, you’ll work with team leaders and subject matter experts to understand how key operational activities are carried out and how information is currently shared across teams. You’ll review existing procedures, process notes, checklists, templates and other resources, identify information gaps, and help bring content together into a consistent and user-friendly format.

You’ll spend time talking with team members, asking questions, gathering operational knowledge and translating complex information into practical guidance that can be used by staff in their day‑to‑day work. Along the way, you’ll gain valuable insight into how operational infrastructure services are planned, delivered and maintained across Christchurch.

By the end of the internship, you’ll have contributed to the development of operations manuals that support knowledge sharing, improve consistency and help reduce reliance on person‑dependent information. If the project progresses ahead of schedule, there may also be an opportunity to assist with the development or improvement of Survey123 forms that support selected field operations processes.

This opportunity is ideal for a student or recent graduate in technical communication, professional writing, information or knowledge management, business analysis, operations management, engineering, environmental engineering, water‑related disciplines, public policy, law, information systems, GIS, geography, or a related field.

We’re looking for curious and organised individuals who enjoy understanding how things work and documenting information in a way that others can easily follow. You’ll have strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and the confidence to ask questions and engage with subject matter experts. You’ll be comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with your fellow intern, operational teams and project sponsors.

What’s in it for you? He aha ngā hua ki a koe?

This internship offers a unique opportunity to develop skills in technical writing, knowledge management, process mapping, stakeholder engagement, business analysis, information gathering, and continuous improvement. You’ll gain experience interviewing subject matter experts, documenting operational processes, managing feedback from multiple stakeholders, and producing resources that will be used in a real operational environment.

You’ll also gain exposure to the day‑to‑day operations of Christchurch’s water, stormwater and wastewater services, providing insight into the infrastructure and operational systems that support our city.

We understand that recruitment processes can be challenging. If you require any accessibility support to apply for this role, please reach out to us at [e-mail]

• Eligibility – Our internships are open to students currently enrolled with a New Zealand Tertiary Education Organisation, and students who have graduated within the last 12 months from a New Zealand Tertiary Education Organisation.
• Hours of work - This role will start on the 9th of November for a fixed term period of 3 months. We are looking for someone available full‑time, 40 hours per week, for the 3 month duration (excluding holidays). We can be flexible for the right candidate.
• Position - We have two places for this internship. The interns will work together to develop both operations manuals.
• Location - This position is primarily based at Te Hononga, Christchurch City Council Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street
• Pay-rate - Christchurch City Council Interns are paid the living wage - $29.90 per hour
• Closing Date - 27/09/2026

Reference # 43786

Posted on 21 Sep 2026

Closes on 27 Sep 2026 23:55

Location(s) Central City

Expertise Business/Systems Analysis, Engineering, Environment, Legal, Policy

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