Urban Growth Policy Advisor

Nelson City Council; Nelson; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nelson City Council is seeking an Urban Growth Policy Advisor to support urban growth planning and policy development. You will analyse land use, environmental constraints, and long-term needs to inform integrated planning and evidence-based decision-making.

You will work with policy planners, scientists and engineers to develop practical planning responses and contribute to strategic planning projects, ensuring alignment with council objectives and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience in urban planning, growth management, or policy planning.
• Ability to analyse spatial, environmental and technical information.
• Strong communication skills for clear, well-structured advice for decision-makers.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and build relationships with stakeholders, including iwi and the community.

Responsibilities

• Provide analysis and advice to support urban growth planning and policy development.
• Contribute to district plan changes and policy frameworks related to growth.
• Analyse information and integrate environmental, hazard and infrastructure considerations.
• Lead development of policy and planning responses that are evidence-based and practical.
• Engage iwi, stakeholders and the community on growth and development issues.

Skills

Urban planning

Growth management

Policy planning

Analytical capability

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in planning or related discipline

Job description

Shaping our future | Kōmiria te anamata

Shaping Our Future was built with the ideas and experience of our own people. Staff input shaped our Operating Model, and that model now guides our new structure: organised around our customers, clearer about who does what, and investing in the capability we need for the future. Part of that vision is a workplace where people feel they belong and have room to grow. If you’re looking to develop your career, use your skills in a new way, or help shape how we serve Whakatū Nelson, we encourage you to apply.

About the role | Kō tēnei tūranga mahi

As our Urban Growth Policy Advisor, you'll play a key role in supporting urban growth planning and policy development across Nelson. Working closely with Council teams, you'll contribute analysis, advice and assessments that inform growth planning and policy development. You'll bring together land use planning, environmental considerations and long-term development needs to support integrated planning and evidence-based decision-making.

Working at the intersection of policy, planning and growth, you'll support the development of policy and planning responses that are evidence based and practical. You'll also contribute to a range of strategic planning projects and planning frameworks, helping ensure growth planning is coordinated, informed by sound analysis, and aligned with Council's wider planning objectives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing analysis and advice to support urban growth planning and policy development
• Contributing to district plan changes, spatial plans and other policy frameworks related to growth and development
• Analysing information and integrating environmental, hazard and infrastructure considerations into growth planning and policy development
• Leading the review and development of Council's Development Contributions Policy, ensuring alignment with legislative requirements, growth projections, and equitable cost recovery principles
• Working collaboratively with policy planners, scientists and engineers to ensure planning responses are evidence based and practical
• Engagingwith iwi, stakeholders and the community on growth and development issues

About you | Ko ngā pūmanawa ō

You'll be a planning, policy or analytical professional who enjoys working across on issues that shape the future of a city. You'll have a strong interest in how cities grow and evolve, along with the ability to see the connections between land use, infrastructure, population change, environmental considerations and long-term planning outcomes.

You bring a combination of analytical capability, strategic thinking and practical problem-solving, along with the ability to build strong working relationships across Council and with external stakeholders.

To be successful in this role, you'll bring:

• Experience in urban planning, growth management, policy planning or a related field, with understanding of land use development and environmental constraints
• The ability to analyse spatial, environmental and technical information and apply it to practical planning outcomes
• Strong communication skills, including preparing clear, well-structured advice for decision-makers
• The ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and build effective relationships with stakeholders, including iwi and the community
• A tertiary qualification in planning, resource management or related discipline